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The  Way  of  the  Cross 


The  Way  of  the  Cross 


A  Series  of  Meditations 

on  the 

History  of  the  Passion  of  Our  Lord 


BY  THE 


y 


Reverend  C.  Armand  Miller,  M.A. 

Pastor  of   the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of   the  Holy  Trinity, 
New  York 


New  York      Chicago      Toronto 

Fleming  H.  Revell  Company 

Publishers  of  Evangelical  Literature 


Copyright,  1898 

by 

Fleming  H,  Revell  Company 


TO    MY   TRUE   HELPMEET, 
In  Loving  Recognition 

OF    HER 

Sympathy  and  Aid, 
This  Book 

IS 

Gratefully  Inscribed. 


PREFACE 

Several  inquiries,  made  at  the  beginning  of 
the  last  Lenten  season  for  a  devotional  book, 
arranged  for  daily  use  during  the  time  of  the 
memorial  of  our  Lord's  Passion,  led  to  the  sur- 
prising discovery  that  in  the  English  language 
no  such  book  exists.  The  writer  thus  had 
forced  upon  him  the  recognition  of  the  need  of 
a  book  which  should  contain,  in  simple,  prac- 
tical form,  a  daily  Scripture  lesson,  and  a  plain, 
devotional  exposition  of  its  directly  helpful 
and  edifying  teachings.  The  excellent  works 
on  Lenten  themes  that  we  now  have,  are  not 
arranged  for  such  systematic  use,  covering  every 
day  of  Lent,  nor  do  they  lend  themselves  to 
the  private  devotions  of  the  lay  member  of  the 
Church  who  earnestly  desires  to  make  the  holi- 
est use  of  the  sacred  season,  to  his  soul's  high- 
est profit.  This  little  work  seeks  to  supply  the 
lack  referred  to.  Its  plan  is  very  simple.  It 
is  based  upon  the  division  of  the  Passion  His- 
tory which  may  be  found  in  the  Allgemeines 
Oehet-huch  of  the  General  Lutheran  Confer- 
ence, (Leipzig,  1884)  published  under  the  spe- 
cial editorial  supervision  of  Doctors  Luthardt 
and  Kliefoth.     As  that  book,  however,  assigns 


Preface 

its  first  portion  to  the  Monday  after  Invocavit 
Sunday,  several  meditations  on  the  nature  and 
true  observance  of  Lent  have  here  been  pre- 
fixed, for  the  days  from  Ash  Wednesday  to  In- 
vocavit Sunday.  The  method  of  treatment  is 
simple  and  obvious.  Each  Scripture  lesson  is 
followed  by  a  study  which  seeks  to  direct  ear- 
nest and  prayerful  attention  to  two  objects: 
first,  our  Lord  Himself,  as  shown  in  the  passage 
considered;  and  secondly,  the  lessons  for  our 
own  lives,  found  in  that  passage.  Then  follows 
a  short  prayer,  in  which  the  thoughts  already 
noticed  are  concentered,  and  turned  into  praise 
and  petition. 

Edification  has  been  the  chief  aim.  But  it 
is  not  claimed  that  even  from  this  standpoint, 
the  treatment  embraces  all  of  the  practical 
themes  that  might  have  been  drawn  from  the 
Scripture  lessons.  Careful  attention  has  been 
given  to  the  exegesis  underlying  the  portions 
of  Scripture  treated,  and  it  is  believed  that  no 
position  taken  is  devoid  of  good  authority. 

That  God  our  Father  may  give  His  Holy 
Spirit  to  quicken  and  enforce  the  truth  of  His 
Word,  so  as  to  exalt  and  endear,  to  those  who 
use  this  little  book.  His  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  in  His  passion, — this  is  the  deepest 
prayer  of  him  who  sends  it  forth. 

12th  Sunday  after  Trinity,  1897. 


Contents 

PAGE 

Ash  Wednesday 9 

Thursday  after  Ash  "Wednesday 12 

Friday  after  Ash  Wednesday 16 

Saturday  after  Ash  Wednesday 20 

Monday  after  luvocavit,  which  is  the  First  Sunday  in 

Lent 25 

Tuesday  after  Invocavit 30 

Wednesday  after  Invocavit 35 

Thursday  after  Invocavit 40 

Friday  after  luvocavit 46 

Saturday  after  Invocavit 51 

Monday  after  Reminiscere,  which  is  the  Second  Sunday 

in  Lent 56 

Tuesday  after  Reminiscere 62 

Wednesday  after  Reminiscere 68 

Thursday  after  Reminiscere 73 

Friday  after  Reminiscere 79 

Saturday  after  Reminiscere 85 

Monday  after  Oculi,  which  is  the  Third  Sunday  in  Lent  92 

Tuesday  after  Oculi 97 

Wednesday  after  Oculi 103 

Thursday  after  Oculi 109 

Friday  after  Oculi 114 

Saturday  after  Oculi 119 

Monday  after  Laetare,  which  is  the  Fourth  Sunday  in 

Lent 125 

Tuesday  after  Laetare 129 

Wednesday  after  Laetare 136 

Thursday  after  Laetare 142 

Friday  after  Laetare 148 


Contents 

PAGE 

Saturday  after  Laetare 153 

Monday  after  Judica,  which  is  the  Fifth  Sunday  in 

Lent 158 

Tuesday  after  Judica 164 

Wednesday  after  Judica 169 

Thursday  after  Judica 173 

Friday  after  Judica 178 

Saturday  after  Judica 185 

Monday  after  Palmarum,  which  is  the  Sixth  Sunday 

in  Lent 191 

Tuesday  after  Palmarum 198 

Wednesday  after  Palmarum 204 

Thursday  after  Palmarum 209 

Good  Friday 215 

Saturday  after  Palmarum 222 


The  Way  of  the  Cross 
Ash   Wednesday 

SCEIPTUEE  LESSONS  :     ^^l^^  g  If^^^^ 

Read  carefully,  in  the  spirit  of  prayer,  the 
two  lessons.  Then  ponder ;  and  apply  by  ear- 
nest heart-searching,  to  your  own  life,  the  med- 
itation which  follows. 

Most  appropriately  has  the  Church  appointed 
for  this  day,  at  the  beginning  of  Lent,  these 
lessons.  They  teach,  distinctly  enough,  the 
meaning  of  this  season  of  repentance  and  self- 
mortification  upon  which  we  have  entered.  The 
great  principles  that  underlie  our  observance  of 
the  Church's  great  fast  are  here  set  before  us, 
so  that  no  one  need  mistake  the  nature  or  the 
purpose  of  this  portion  of  the  Church  Year. 

The  prophet  was  commissioned  to  call  a  sol- 
emn public  fast.  The  sin  of  the  people  made 
it  necessary.  Sin  had  brought  judgment,  and 
judgment  was  God's  call  to  repentance.  The 
Church,  to-day  also,  has  many  reasons  to  recog- 
nize God's  call  to  repentance.  The  living  for 
self  that  is  so  common ;  the  homes  filled  with 
9 


lo  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

every  comfort  and  even  luxury,  while  the  work 
of  the  Lord  languishes,  and  His  servants  suffer 
lack, — surely  this  is  call  for  humiliation  and 
turning.  There  is  always  need  for  individual 
repentance  and  renewal,  but  there  is  need  also 
of  solemn,  public  seasons  of  authorized  ap- 
pointment, to  impress  more  deeply  upon  all  the 
people  the  claims  God  has  upon  them,  and  their 
duty  to  acknowledge  and  respond  to  those 
claims.  So,  at  this  time,  the  word  goes  forth, 
Sanctify  a  fast ;  Gather  the  people ;  Let  the 
ministers  of  the  Lord  weep  and  say,  "  Spare  thy 
people,  O  Lord  ;  "  and  Let  the  people  turn  unto 
the  Lord  their  God.  This  is  the  first  obvious 
meaning  of  the  season  of  Lent. 

This  fast  is  to  be  a  heartfelt  spiritual  solem- 
nity. Clear  is  the  warning.  God  wants  rent 
hearts,  not  rent  garments ;  the  sincere  hunger 
of  the  soul,  not  abstinence  from  meats  and 
drinks,  without  the  mourning  of  the  heart  over 
sin.  He  calls  for  self-denial  and  self-discipline 
in  the  sight  of  God,  not  assumed  before  men. 
The  soul  iliust  get  into  the  secret  place  with 
the  Father,  and  bear  His  scrutiny.  If,  for  the 
better  mastery  of  the  body,  in  order  to  keep  it 
under,  and  to  leave  the  soul  the  freer  for  spir- 
itual contemplation  and  devotion,  you  abstain 
from  food,  let  that  be  a  secret  between  you 
and  God.  This  is  not  a  matter  of  rules  and 
indulgences,  least  of  all  a  matter  of  merit,  but 


Ash  Wednesday  11 

of  heart-searching  and  of  spiritual  renewal  in 
the  sight  of  the  Father  who  seeth  in  secret. 

This  fast  means  deep,  true  recognition  of 
sin;  sincere  and  whole-hearted  turning  unto 
God ;  prayer  and  communion  with  Him,  secret 
and  intense  supplication  to  Him ;  fixing  the 
heart  on  the  heavenly  treasures  that  are  eternal 
and  incorruptible  ;  other-worldliness,  instead  of 
worldliness, — a  heaven-fixed  heart  instead  of  a 
heart  earth-bound.  How  easy  it  would  be  sim- 
ply to  have  fish  instead  of  meat,  to  rest  from 
worldly  dissipations  for  six  weeks, — in  order  to 
gain  more  relish  for  them  afterward, — and  to 
count  this  the  keeping  of  the  fast !  But  God 
will  not  have  it  so.  The  spiritual  fast  He  will 
have,  or  nothing.  Are  you  ready  to  obey  Him  ? 
He  commands.  Hear  Him,  and  ''  turn  with  all 
your  heart." 

Prayer,  Father  in  Heaven,  search  me  and 
know  my  heart,  try  me  and  know  my  ways,  and 
see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead 
me  in  the  way  everlasting.  Spare  me,  O  Lord, 
and  pity  me.  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  and 
renew  a  constant  spirit  within  me.  Fix  my 
heart  where  all  true  joys  dwell,  and  let  me  be 
well-pleasing  in  Thy  sight.  See,  Lord,  I  yield 
myself  to  Thee,  that  Thou  mayest  work  Thy 
will  with  me,  through  thy  gracious  Spirit.  And 
I  ask  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen, 


Thursday  after  Ash  Wednesday 

Head  Ex.  12 :  21-27;  Heb.  10  :  19-31. 

The  reason  for  the  observance  of  Lent  is 
not  legale  but,  like  other  evangelical  rites  and 
usages,  is  to  be  found  in  the  free  promptings 
of  the  cultivated  Christian  conscience  and 
judgment.  To  appoint  a  memorial  of  note- 
worthy events  has  always  been  a  natural 
human  impulse.  And  to  have  set  times  for 
certain  Christian  duties,  for  certain  public  oc- 
casions of  general  interest,  devoted  to  common 
supplication  or  humiliation,  has  always  been 
recognized  as  fitting  and  profitable.  On  the 
basis  of  these  two  universally  accepted  ideas, 
uniting  most  fitly  in  this  custom  of  the  Church, 
the  season  of  Lent  finds  not  only  justification, 
but  authority.  The  sufferings  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  as  the  ground  and  means  of  the 
forgiveness  of  our  sins,  undoubtedly  deserve 
especial  memorial  and  commemoration.  The 
sense  of  sin,  and  the  contemplation  of  its 
awfulness  (brought  to  the  minds  of  men  in  no 
way  so  impressively  as  through  the  passion  of 
our  Lord),  is  of  such  universal  import,  and  of 
such  unceasing  necessity,  that  the  appropriate- 
ness of  a  stated,  regularly  recurring  time  for 
suitable  meditations  can  scarcely  be  questioned. 
12 


Thursday  after  Ash  Wednesday      13 

It  is  certain  that  this  feeling  found  expres- 
sion very  early  in  the  ancient  Church.  Wed- 
nesday and  Friday  of  every  week  were  ob- 
served in  remembrance  of  the  sufferings  of 
Christ,  as  days  of  humiliation  and  repentance. 
The  development  of  the  Church  Year  led  to  an- 
other manifestation  of  this  same  spirit  in  the 
observance  of  the  Easter  season.  So  deep  was 
the  effect  of  the  commemoration  of  Christ's 
sufferings  that  one  day,  that  of  His  death,  was 
felt  to  be  entirely  too  little  time  to  devote  to 
such  a  theme.  By  and  by,  therefore.  Good 
Friday  came  to  be  preceded  by  a  period  set  for 
prayer,  repentance  and  fasting.  This  period 
finally  was  fixed  as  of  forty  days  duration,  with 
reference  to  the  time  our  Master  had  conse- 
crated by  His  fasting  in  the  wilderness.  The 
real  significance  of  the  Lenten  observance  can 
be  profitably  noted  from  the  words  of  Chrysos- 
tom :  *'  Many  were  heretofore  used  to  come  to 
the  communion  indevoutly  and  inconsiderately, 
especially  at  that  time  when  Christ  first  gave  it 
to  His  disciples.  [In  Holy  Week.]  Therefore 
our  forefathers,  considering  the  mischief  arising 
from  such  careless  approaches,  met  and  ap- 
pointed forty  days  for  fasting  and  prayer,  for 
hearing  of  sermons,  and  for  holy  assemblies; 
that  all  men  in  these  days,  being  carefully  puri- 
fied by  prayer  and  alms-deeds,  fasting  and 
watching,  tears  and  confession   of  sins,  with 


14  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

other  like  exercises,  might,  according  to  their 
capacity,  come  with  pure  consciences  to  the 
Holy  Table." 

That  set  7nemorial8  are  pleasing  to  Gody  ia 
evident  from  many  teachings  of  His  Word,  as 
from  the  institution  of  the  Passover,  and  of  the 
holy  Sacraments.  Frequently  also  He,  Him- 
self, appointed  times  for  public  fasting  and 
humiliation,  of  which  one  example  is  given  in 
the  lesson  from  the  prophet  Joel,  so  appro- 
priately allotted  to  the  first  day  of  the  Lenten 
season. 

As  we  enter,  then,  this  time  of  commemora- 
tion and  repentance,  we  do  it  with  the  knowl- 
edge that  the  Church  of  old,  by  example  and 
by  precept,  consecrated  the  keeping  of  the 
fast;  that  the  principles  which  authorize  it  are 
clearly  and  repeatedly  set  forth  in  the  Word 
of  God ;  that  it  has  been,  in  all  the  ages  of  the 
Christian  Church,  a  time  of  especial  devotion 
and  spiritual  refreshment ;  that  it  offers  to 
each  of  us  the  opportunity  for  similar  profit, 
and  may,  by  a  proper  observance,  become  richly 
productive  of  good ;  that  it  is  for  the  greater 
honor  of  our  Lord,  in  the  remembrance  of  His 
love  and  suffering,  but  still  more  in  the  exalta- 
tion of  the  atoning  efficacy  of  His  blood,  and 
in  moving  to  new  contrition  and  holier  living, 
those  who  bear  His  Name.  Shall  we  not,  then, 
embrace  most  gladly  the  privileges  and  bless- 


Thursday  after  Ash  Wednesday      15 

ings  of  the  season,  and  rejoice  in  this  call  to 
turn  from  the  ordinary  course  of  life  and  give 
more  of  our  thought  and  time  and  love  to  the 
things  of  Christ  and  of  His  kingdom  ? 

Prayer.  Dear  Lord,  make  me  love  to  think 
of  Thee,  of  all  that  Thou  hast  done,  of  all  that 
Thou  hast  been,  and  art  to  me.  I  thank  Thee 
for  having  led  Thy  Church  to  fix  this  time  to 
be  a  reminder  of  Thy  passion,  and  a  resting 
time,  in  sweet  communion  with  Thee,  from 
the  weariness  of  pilgrimage.  Be  with  me  in 
my  waiting.  Give  me  fellowship  with  Thee 
and  with  the  Father.  And  may  this  Lenten 
time  be  a  true  spiritual  fast,  and  may  m.y  soul 
thereby  grow  strong.  Through  this  holy  us- 
age, bind  me  in  the  bond  of  oneness  with  the 
Church  of  all  ages,  in  the  communion  of  saints. 
And  grant  my  prayer  acceptance,  O  Thou  great 
High  Priest,  through  the  blood  Thyself  hast 
shed.    Amen* 


Friday  after  Ash  Wednesday 

Read  again  Matt.  6 :  16-21. 

The  true  observance  of  Lent,  as  the  lesson 
shows,  is  not  in  externals^  but  within.  We  are 
not  to  be  desirous  to  have  upon  us  the  signs  of 
extraordinary  sacrifices,  so  that  everyone  who 
sees  us  will  be  aware  of  our  piety.  We  are 
rather  to  take  due  pains  to  conceal  the  evi- 
dences of  actual  fasting  or  other  self-depriva- 
tion, seeking  tlie  approval  of  the  Father  alone. 
It  is  an  awful  thing  to  have  received  one's  re- 
ward, when  it  is  such  a  poor  and  SAviftly  pass- 
ing one.  The  hypocrite  has  an  unenviable  lot ; 
he  gets  his  reward,  and  has  nothing  beyond  it. 
When  he  shall  look  for  more  at  the  last,  he 
will  find  that  he  has  already  been  fully  repaid, 
in  the  praise  of  men,  for  the  utterly  worthless, 
though  specious,  pretence  of  piety  that  he  wore 
as  an  outer  garment.  God  has  nothing  to  give 
him,  for  he  did  nothing,  in  the  sight  of  God, 
to  be  approved.  He  wrought  for  the  praise-  of 
men.  He  has  his  reward.  But  the  thought 
and  aim  of  the  true  Christian,  in  his  keeping 
of  the  fast,  is  utterly  different.  He  seeks  only 
the  Father's  smile.  How  he  appears  before 
his  Father,  who  sees  in  secret,  is  tlie  only  ques- 
tion to  him.  In  other  words,  the  true  and 
16 


Friday  after  Ash  Wednesday         17 

worthy  observance  of  Lent,  is  in  the  keeping 
of  it  as  more  than  a  cessation  from  some  out- 
ward usages,  more  even  than  compliance  with 
ecclesiastical  customs,  but  as  a  spiritual  and 
deeply  religious  concern.  It  is  a  thing  of  the 
heart.  It  is  a  close  and  intimate  communion 
with  God.  Its  rewards  are  of  the  inner,  higher 
life,  and,  in  their  consummation,  of  the  future 
life.  Whoever  will  keep  Lent  otherwise  is 
astray,  and  either  deceived  or  seeking  to  de- 
ceive. This  is  the  nature  of  the  fast  to  which 
the  Church  and  the  Lord  invite  us.  There  is 
no  other  way  to  accept  the  invitation. 

Yet  there  is  reiuard^  yes,  treasure  to  be  gained. 
It  is  not  earthly,  nor  corruptible.  This  is  a 
time  especially  for  turning  away  from  the 
earthly  pursuits  that  tempt  us,  so  strongly,  to 
engross  ourselves  in  them  ;  and  for  thinking  of 
the  heavenly  things  and  addressing  ourselves 
with  peculiar  energy  and  concentration  to  the 
gaining  of  the  heavenly  treasures.  Lent  is  a 
call  to  the  loftier  aspirations,  a  demand  that  we 
remember  our  celestial  citizenship,  and  our 
eternal  inheritance.  We  can  afford,  with  profit, 
in  every  sense  of  the  word,  to  relax  the  hith- 
erto almost  unceasing  grind  and  toil,  and  to 
give  more  time  to  the  assembling  of  ourselves 
together,  more  time  to  the  Word  of  God,  more 
time  to  prayer.  There  are  some  whose  custom 
it  is  to  read  the  Book  of  Books  only  on  Sun- 


l8  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

day.  Make  your  Lent  one  longer  Sunday.  If 
you  had  treasure  in  another  land,  you  would 
love  to  read  about  it,  to  know  perfectly  the 
conditions  on  which  you  could  lay  claim  to  it, 
to  talk  with  those  who  knew  of  it,  and  espe- 
cially with  any  one  able  to  be  very  helpful  in  se- 
curing the  enjoyment  of  it.  And  so  the  themes 
of  God's  Word,  the  dwelling  upon  them  in 
thought,  the  communion  with  Him  in  prayer, — 
these  are  the  employments  which,  in  unusual 
measure,  ought  to  concern  us  during  Lent. 
The  very  arrangement  of  this  little  book  is  in- 
tended to  be  helpful  in  showing  a  profitable 
way  to  use  the  Word  of  God :  first,  by  giving 
careful  attention  to  the  words  of  the  Scripture 
lesson ;  then  by  dwelling  upon  the  passage  as  a 
whole,  or  verse  by  verse,  and  tasting  its  mean- 
ing, meditating  upon  it,  and  finding  it  yield  up 
more  and  more  of  comfort  and  instruction  ;  and 
then,  by  turning  it  into  prayer,  pleading  the 
promises,  deprecating  the  judgments,  aspiring 
toward  the  glorious  hopes,  accepting  the  com- 
mands,.and  answering  God's  Word,  with  loving, 
loyal  response.  Thus  prayer,  on  the  basis  of 
the  Word,  becomes  what  it  ought  to  be,  not 
monologue,  but  dialogue. 

Give  yourself  to  these  things,  now,  in  this 
peculiarly  appropriate  season.  Learn  the 
loeauty  and  blessing  of  the  Scriptures,  as  they 
reveal   themselves  only  to  a  searcher  of   the 


Friday  after  Ash  Wednesday         19 

Book,  and  your  deeper  spiritual  life  will  con- 
tinue to  develop,  after  the  forty  days  are  past. 

Prayer.  Lord,  lift  my  heart  toward  the 
higher  things.  Let  the  heavenward  trend  pos- 
sess my  life  with  power.  I  am  weary.  Rest 
Thou  me  in  the  serene  atmosphere  which  those 
breathe  who  live  in  the  peace  of  God.  Give 
me  hunger  for  Thee,  and  for  Thy  Word.  Give 
me  joy  in  communing  with  Thee.  I  would  be 
rich,  but  seeking  after  the  treasures  of  this 
world,  I  have  become  poor ;  give  me  treasures 
in  Heaven.  Search  me  and  try  me  by  the  life 
of  Jesus,  and  deal  with  me  in  Thy  secret  places, 
that  I  may  fast  acceptably  to  Thee.  Heal  me 
in  the  inward  parts,  that  I  may  please  Thee. 
Grant  all  for  the  sake  of  Him  who  purchased 
for  me  a  right  to  the  life  in  Thee.     AwLen. 


Saturday  after  Ash  Wednesday 

Read  Isaiah  58:  1-12;  Phil.  1:  3-11. 

A  TRUE  inner  quickening  of  the  Christ-life 
will  manifest  itself,  inevitably,  in  an  increase  of 
good  fruits  in  the  outer  life.  The  connection  is 
so  intimate  and  necessary,  that  the  prophet,  in 
the  first  passage  noted  above,  describes  the  fast 
as  consisting  of  practical,  loving  deeds.  Re- 
pentance is  an  intensely  practical  thing.  *' Bow- 
ing the  head  as  a  bulrush,"  and  *'  spreading 
sackcloth  and  ashes  "  is  not  fasting,  in  a  way 
acceptable  to  the  Lord.  "  Loosing  bands  of 
wickedness,  undoing  heavy  burdens,  breaking 
yokes,  dealing  bread  to  the  hungry,"  this  is  the 
fast  that  He  has  chosen.  Repentance  is  not 
weeping  over  sin,  while  continuing  to  practice 
it ;  but  renouncing  sin,  and  undoing  it.  He 
does  not  truly  repent  who  attends  Lenten  serv- 
ices, and  loudly  joins  in  the  deprecations  of  the 
Litany,  while  he  retains  in  his  coffers  the  gains 
of  unrighteousness  and  will  not  make  restitu- 
tion. Let  your  fast  be  in  holy  deeds,  and  in 
loving  service. 

Make  this  Lenten  season  a  time  of  self -denial. 

*'  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny 

himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow 

me."     Wherein  does  your  Christian  living  in- 

20 


Saturday  after  Ash  Wednesday      21 

volve  self-denial?  What  cross, — that  is,  what 
voluntary  burden  or  sacrifice,  do  you  daily 
bear?  Judged  by  this  test  of  following,  can 
you  say  that  you  are  following  Jesus  at  all  ?  Is 
not  this  the  very  point  at  which  the  comfort- 
able, ease-loving  religion  that  is  fashionable  to- 
day, shows  most  unlikeness  to  the  Christianity 
of  Christ?  What  better  purpose  can  we  bring 
to  the  true  observance  of  Lent  than  that  of 
making  it  a  school  of  self-sacrifice  and  cross- 
bearing,  while  we  follow  Him^  in  the  carrying 
of  His  cross?  Let  this  be,  then,  a  time  for 
thoughtful  study  of  the  appeals  that  Christ,  in 
His  Church,  is  making  for  your  help,  in  the 
very  pressing  demands  of  the  work  which  is 
yours,  because  it  is  His.  Look  aroun'd  you,  and 
where  you  see  the  need,  either  in  your  own 
congregation,  or  in  the  broader  work  of  the 
Church,  for  your  serving  or  your  giving,  heed 
the  call  and  make  response,  even  to  the  point 
of  self-denial.  Is  it  right  to  offer  Him  of  that 
which  costs  you  nothing?  Did  He  offer  you 
such  a  gift  as  that  ?  If,  under  the  dimmer  light 
of  the  older  day.  King  David  would  not  accept 
the  liberal  gift  of  Araunah  for  a  burnt  offering, 
(2  Sam.  24 :  18-25)  but  insisted  upon  paying 
him  the  full  price  of  his  land  and  oxen, — feel- 
ing unwilling  to  let  another  give  and  sacrifice 
for  him, — then  how  much  more  should  we,  in 
our  greater  privileges  and  knowledge,  refuse  to 


22  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

depute  our  giving  to  another,  or  to  content  our- 
selves with  offering  God  that  which  involves  no 
sacrifice  to  us !  Time,  talent,  service,  money, 
whatever  we  have  of  which  the  Lord  has  need, 
and  which  He  is  willing  to  use,  let  us  lay  it 
freely  upon  His  altar  and  rejoice  that  we  are 
counted  worthy  to  consecrate  our  gifts  to  Him ! 
Make  your  observance  of  this  Lent  the 
means  of  a  permanent  uplifting  of  your  spiritual 
life.  As  St.  Paul  has  it  in  the  second  lesson 
indicated  above,  "  Abound  yet  more  and  more.'* 
To  live  nearer  to  Christ  through  these  forty 
days,  and  then  to  turn  your  back  upon  Him, 
and  give  yourself  to  unrestrained  world liness  in 
the  marts,  or  in  the  drawing-rooms,  for  the  months 
until  the  passion  season  comes  again — this  is 
no  true  keeping  of  the  fast.  Indeed,  the  keep- 
ing of  it  with  this  purpose  and  in  this  expecta- 
tion, would  be  no  better  than  hypocrisy.  To 
repent  for  six  weeks,  is  not  to  repent  at  all.  A 
holiness  that  is  intended  to  last  for  forty  days, 
is  a  holiness  of  which  the  Lord  knows  nothing. 
The  only  \ows  He  honors  and  approves,  are 
eternal  vows.  The  only  renunciation  of  sin 
that  avails  before  Him,  is  to  renounce  it  for- 
ever. He  will  have  no  truce  with  sin,  no 
armistice  for  the  most  part  of  the  life,  with  a 
show  of  fighting  for  just  the  little  time  that  we 
call  Lent.  If  you  are  going  back  to  the  enemy's 
camp,  you  had  as  well  stay  there.     Our  Captain 


Saturday  after  Ash  Wednesday      23 

will  never  acknowledge  you  as  soldier  of  His, 
unless  you  are  His  entirely.  But  this  time  of 
close  inter-communion  with  Him  is  of  ines- 
timable benefit  to  every  one  who  desires  to  be 
stronger  and  better  for  all  the  coming  days. 
To  be  truly  abiding  with  Him,  even  for  a  little 
while,  will  teach  us  the  blessedness  of  such 
nearness,  so  that  we  should  be  lonely  afterwards 
without  Him.  We  draw  nearer  that  we  may 
never  again  go  so  far  away.  The  lessons  that 
we  learn,  will  fit  us  to  be  far  more  to  Him,  and 
to  do  far  more  for  Him,  because  we  have  been 
with  Jesus.  No  wonder  that  others  find  no 
beauty  nor  worth  in  the  observance  of  Lent, 
when  they  see  men  turn  back,  after  the  Easter 
feast,  to  the  same  empty  life  as  before,  and  when 
they  imagine  that  this  is  the  keeping  of  the  fast 
that  the  Church  chooses,  and  that  we  suppose 
is  pleasing  to  God.  If  all  the  future  life  is  not 
better,  nobler,  fuller  of  praise  and  service,  we 
have  not  kept  the  fast. 

Prayer.  O  Lord,  our  Teacher  and  our 
Friend,  help  us  that  we  may  learn  to  know 
Thee  as  Thou  art.  If  we  may  see  Thy  love, 
assuredly  we  shall  love  Thee  !  If  we  but  know 
Thy  Name,  we  cannot  withhold  our  trust  from 
Thee.  If  we  have  fellowship  with  Thy  sor- 
rows, we  cannot  forget  Thee.  Take  us  apart 
with  Thee,  as  Thou  didst  take  John  and  James 


24  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

and  Peter,  and  show  us  Thyself  in  Thy  mo- 
ments of  heart-revealing.  Give  us,  for  our- 
selves, the  ambition  of  Paul  for  his  spiritual 
children,  to  abound  yet  more  and  more.  Make 
us  unselfish,  and  teach  us  the  privilege  and  the 
joy  of  sacrifice.  Near  to  Thee,  and  in  the 
shadow  of  Thine  awful  sufferings,  surely  shall 
we  feel  the  hatefulness  of  sin,  and  abhor  it; 
surely  shall  we  feel  the  littleness  of  our  lives, 
and  commit  ourselves  to  Thee  for  more  abun- 
dant life.  O  Lord,  Who  seest  our  need,  and 
Who  hast  died  to  save  us  from  all  unworthy 
things  to  all  that  is  highest  and  best,  supply 
our  lack,  and  bless  us  in  Thy  love.     Ameii, 


Monday   after  Invocavit,  which  is  the  First 
Sunday  in  Lent 

Jesus  therefore  six  days  before  the  passover  came  to 
Bethany,  where  Lazarus  was,  whom  Jesus  raised  from  the 
dead.  There  they  made  him  a  supper  in  the  house  of 
Simon  the  leper ;  and  Martha  served :  but  Lazarus  was  one 
of  them  that  sat  at  meat  with  him.  And  as  he  sat  at  meat 
there  came  a  woman  having  an  alabaster  cruse  of  exceed- 
ing precious  ointment,  and  she  poured  it  upon  his  head  and 
anointed  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  wiped  his  feet  with  her 
hair :  and  the  house  was  filled  with  the  odor  of  the  oint- 
ment. Judas  Iscariot,  one  of  his  disciples,  who  should  be- 
tray him,  saith.  Why  was  not  this  ointment  sold  for  three 
hundred  shillings  and  given  to  the  poor?  Now  this  he 
said,  not  because  he  cared  for  the  poor;  but  because  he 
was  a  thief,  and  having  the  bag  took  away  what  was  put 
therein. 

But  there  were  some  that  had  indignation  among  them- 
selves, saying^  To  what  purpose  hath  this  waste  of  the  oint- 
ment been  made?  For  this  ointment  might  have  been  sold 
for  above  three  hundred  shillings,  and  given  to  the  poor. 
And  they  murmured  against  her. 

But  Jesus  said,  Let  her  alone ;  why  trouble  ye  her  ?  She 
hath  wrought  a  good  work  on  me.  For  ye  have  the  poor 
always  with  you,  and  whensoever  ye  will  ye  can  do  them 
good :  But  me  ye  have  not  always.  She  hath  done  what 
she  could :  she  hath  anointed  my  body  aforehand  for  the 
burying.  And  verily  I  say  unto  you,  Wheresoever  the 
gospel  shall  be  preached  throughout  the  whole  world,  that 
also  which  this  woman  hath  done  shall  be  spoken  of  for  a 
memorial  of  her. 

At  a  Feast.  The  Master  is  indeed  at  a  festal 
scene.    But  He  sees  the  shadow  over  Him.    He 

25 


26  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

catches  the  deeper,  mysterious  meaning  of  the 
loving  deed  of  Mary.  Before  His  instructed 
gaze  there  yawns,  not  far  away,  the  open  tomb, 
*'  For  my  burying  she  is  come  beforehand  to 
anoint  my  body."  What  courage  and  conse- 
cration more  than  sublime  are  manifested  in 
this  fearless  "  forward  march  "  into  the  jaws  of 
death — the  gates  of  hell.  Not  as  in  the  shock 
and  thrill  of  battle's  glorious  enthusiasm,  but 
in  the  cool,  calm,  daily  walk.  He  draws  nearer 
each  moment  to  the  awful  doom  that  the  sin  of 
others  had  prepared  for  Him. 

And  yet,  as  if  this  constant  burden  were  not 
enough,  we  find  Him  here  pained  to  the  heart 
at  the  ignorant  murmuring  of  some  of  the  dis- 
ciples, led  by  the  deceitful  indignation  of  Judas. 
Herein  is  a  picture  of  the  closing  days  of  Jesus. 
Even  though  His  friends  are  about  Him — a 
feast  prepared  for  Him — a  man  miraculously 
brought  back  from  chains  of  death  present  as  a 
living  witness  to  His  divine  power, — yet  He 
cannot  avoid  the  clasp  of  sorrow.  Grief's 
gaunt  presence  is  inevitable ; — and,  *'  acquainted 
with  grief,"  He  feels  now  one  thrust  and  now 
another,  through  His  heart,  of  the  swords  that 
must  pierce  Him.  And  these  sorrows  that  He 
bears  are  for  you  and  me  ! 

One  Ray  of  Joy.  Yet  as  we  look  at  Him  our 
hearts  rejoice.  Even  though  the  days  on  which 
He  is  entering  are  to  be  so  full  of  pain, — even 


Monday  after  Invocavit  27 

though  the  traitor  is  now  concocting  his  plans, 
— yet  we  have  cause  for  joy  to  see  Him  once 
more  in  the  house  of  His  friends,  Lazarus  sit- 
ting with  Him,  Martha  serving,  and  Mary  pour- 
ing her  richest  gift  on  head  and  feet — the  head 
that  is  so  soon  to  bear  the  thorns,  the  feet  that 
are  to  be  pierced  with  the  naiL  One  gleam  of 
love-light  in  the  midst  of  the  gloom  that  black- 
ens about  Him.  It  makes  the  darkness  darker 
still,  but  oh,  how  bright  it  seems  by  the  con- 
trast, and  how  tender  the  joy  that  it  brought 
to  the  heart  of  the  Master !  What  beauty  of 
appropriateness  He  saw  in  it !  What  deathless 
reward  He  gave  it ! 

1.  Let  us  be  moved,  as  we  look  on  this  scene, 
to  bring  him  our  best.  What  alabaster  box 
have  you  ?  What  offering  very  precious  to  the 
Saviour's  heart  does  your  love  bid  you  bring  ? 
Have  you  broken  the  box  of  your  heart's  de- 
votion, of  your  gifts  of  mind  and  body,  of  your 
ambitions  and  energies,  upon  His  head  ?  This 
was  the  best  thing  that  Mary  knew  how  to 
find  and  offer  Him ;  she  did  "  what  she  could." 
Have  you  offered  Him  your  best?  Is  not  now 
the  fit  time  to  do  it  ?  While  foes  were  plotting 
and  professed  friends  were  finding  fault,  Mary 
stood  up  and  honored  Him.  To  day,  when  so 
many  hate  Him  and  others  mock  His  blessed 
Name,  while  half-hearted  followers  are  plenty, 


28  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

will  you  not  put  yourself  without  reserve  at 
His  disposal?  Just  now,  at  the  beginning  of 
this  season  of  commemoration  of  His  suffer- 
ings, does  not  every  impulse  of  gratitude  and 
loyalty  drive  us  to  love  Him  and  to  show  our 
love  unmistakably,  in  whatever  wa}^  we  can? 
Have  you  done  what  you  could?  Little  or 
much,  have  you  done  it?  Will  you  do  what 
you  can,  the  utmost  that  you  can,  for  Him  who, 
suffering  and  distressed  and  lonely,  did  all  for 
you? 

2.  Let  us  be  moved  to  abhor  the  petty  spirit 
of  imrsimony  of  these  disciples.  Shall  the 
heart  of  Jesus  have  no  joy  if  it  costs  two  hun- 
dred pence?  Does  love  care  for  cost?  Would 
God  the  Church  to-day,  you  and  I  and  all  of 
us,  had  the  heart  of  Mary !  If  she  could  have 
offered  Him  what  cost  her  more,  she  would 
have  done  it.  All  true  love  is  large  and  gen- 
erous. The  poor?  Yes,  we  have  them,  and  we 
owe  them  a  sacred  duty.  But  to  Jesus  we  owe 
all.  How  blessed  that  we  can  give  Him  glad- 
ness even  ,by  succoring  them.  But  are  you 
afraid  of  giving  too  much  to  Christ?  Are  you 
one  of  those  who  ask,  "Isn't  this  enough?"  in- 
stead of  asking,  '*  Is  this  the  very  most  that  I 
can  give?"  The  consummation  of  the  plan  of 
Christ  and  of  the  work  of  the  Church  will  be 
wrought  by  the  hands  of  those  who  have  caught 
the  noblest  ambition  of  all,  to  do  their  utmost 


Monday  after  Invocavit  29 

for  the  glory  of  the  King ;  not  to  limit  their 
service  by  the  least  that  the  law  demands,  but 
to  live  to  please  God  in  the  largest  usefulness. 

Prayer.  O  blessed  Lord,  Who  didst  bear  for 
me  the  burdens  that  oppressed  Thee,  grant  me 
Thy  grace  and  power  to  render  Thee  my  heart's 
deep  gratitude.  I  have  no  alabaster  box,  no 
offering  very  precious,  but.  Lord,  although  my 
best  is  all  unworthy  to  be  given,  I  offer  all  my 
love,  and  all  my  strength,  and  all  my  hopes  and 
all  I  am  and  can  be  by  Thy  grace,  to  Thee  for- 
ever. Take  Thou,  and  seal  and  keep  the  gift, 
O  Thou  Who  gavest  all  for  me.     Amen, 


Tuesday  after  Invocavit 

On  the  morrow  a  great  multitude  that  had  come  unto  the 
feast,  when  they  heard  that  Jesus  was  coming  to  Jerusa- 
lem, took  the  branches  of  the  palm  trees,  and  went  forth 
to  meet  him,  and  cried  out,  Hosanna  :  Blessed  is  he  that 
Cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  even  the  King  of  Israel. 
And  Jesus,  having  found  a  young  ass,  sat  thereon  ;  as  it  is 
written,  Fear  not,  daughter  of  Zion :  behold,  thy  King 
cometh,  sitting  on  an  ass's  colt. 

The  multitude  therefore  that  was  with  him  when  he 
called  Lazarus  out  of  the  tomb,  and  raised  him  from  the 
dead,  bare  witness.  For  this  cause  also  the  multitude 
went  and  met  him,  for  that  they  heard  that  he  had  done 
this  sign.  The  Pharisees  therefore  said  among  themselves, 
Behold  how  ye  prevail  nothing :  lo,  the  world  is  gone  after 
him. 

Now  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  drew  nigh  which  is 
called  the  passover.  And  Jesus  said  to  his  disciples,  Ye 
know  that  after  two  days  the  passover  cometh,  and  the  Son 
of  man  is  delivered  up  to  be  crucified.  Then  were  gathered 
together  the  chief  priests,  and  the  elders  of  the  people,  unto 
the  court  of  the  high  priest,  who  was  called  Caiaphas;  and 
they  took  counsel  together  that  they  might  take  Jesus  by 
subtilty,  and  kill  him.  But  they  said.  Not  during  the 
feast,  lest  a  tumult  arise  among  the  people. 

Then  one  of  the  twelve,  who  was  called  Judas  Iscariot, 
went  away,  and  communed  with  the  chief  priests  and  cap- 
tains, and  said.  What  are  ye  willing  to  give  me,  and  I  will 
deliver  him  unto  you  ?  And  they  were  glad,  and  covenanted 
to  give  him  money ;  and  they  weighed  unto  him  thirty 
pieces  of  silver.  And  he  consented,  and  sought  oppor- 
tunity to  deliver  him  unto  them  without  tumult. 

The  Master  Honored.     Our  Lord  comes  before 
30 


Tuesday  after  Invocavit  31 

us  here  unlike  Himself.  It  is  His  first  and  last 
acceptance  (in  the  time  of  His  humiliation)  of 
human  honor.  Rang  the  "  Hosannas  "  sweetly 
in  His  ear,  or  heard  He,  like  their  echo,  the  cry 
"  Crucify  Him  !  Crucify  Him  !  "  ?  Here  He  is 
coming  as  a  King.  Oh,  lowly  King !  A  pass- 
ing wave  of  popular  enthusiasm  had  lifted  Him 
up  before  this  multitude.  All  about  Him  now 
are  praises,  honors  !  His  enemies,  not  shrewd 
enough  to  understand,  lose  courage.  "  Ye  be- 
hold how  ye  accomplish  nothing.  All  the 
world  is  gone  after  Him." 

But  Not  Deceived.  No  momentary  enthu- 
siasm has  deceived  the  Master.  The  deep  pain 
that  cannot  pass  is  gnawing  at  His  heart.  He 
weeps  at  the  certain  doom  of  the  people,  about 
to  reject  Him.  He  foresees  every  part  of  the 
evil  that  is  to  come.  Calmly  He  said  it,  and 
carelessly  His  disciples  seem  to  have  heard  it, 
yet  who  can  realize  what  horror  was  in  his 
human  heart  when  He  spoke  the  words,  "  The 
Son  of  man  will  be  delivered  up  to  be  cruci- 
fied ; "  as  He  looked  the  while  down  into  the 
coming  days,  to  those  last,  long  hours,  fearful 
in  hatred,  lurid  with  the  wrath  of  His  foes, 
cruel  in  the  agony  they  should  bring,  red  with 
the  blood  of  His  heart.  Even  now  as  He 
speaks,  the  foes  are  gathered,  taking  counsel, 
not  for  the  justice  or  right  to  defend  which  they 
were  set,  but  how,  by  craft,  they  may  take  and 


32  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

kill  Him.  Even  now  the  traitor  is  stealing 
forth  on  His  hellish  errand  to  the  cowardly 
enemies  that  thirst  only  for  the  blood  of  the 
Lord,  that  he  may  barter  for  base  gain  the 
Master  who  had  called  and  taught  and  loved 
him. 

And  serene  in  His  sorrow  and  danger,  the 
Saviour  walks  steadfastly  the  path  appointed 
Him,  whose  end  He  sees.  For  you ;  for  if  He 
had  faltered  and  failed,  your  sin  had  sealed  your 
awful  fate  forever. 

1.  Let  us  not  leave  our  enthusiasm  unrooted. 
Enthusiasm  is  good,  but  if  it  has  no  depth  it 
avails  nothing.  The  mob  howls  to-day  for  the 
blood  of  its  hero  of  yesterday.  See  the  story 
of  the  French  Revolution  for  illustrations 
abundant.  Emotions  are  easily  stirred,  and  it 
is  no  great  distance  from  the  men  of  Jerusalem, 
with  their  "Hosannas"of  Palm  Sunday  and 
their  *'  Crucify  Him  "  of  Good  Friday,  to  those 
who,  to-day,  weep  at  the  sufferings  of  Jesus 
during  Lent,  and  put  Him  to  an  open  shame 
the  day  after  Easter.  Yet  if  enthusiasm  be 
grounded  in  the  intelligent  devotion  of  the  will 
to  the  Lord,  it  becomes  the  fervent  zeal  of  a 
Paul  and  a  Luther. 

2.  Fail  not  to  remember  that  no  man  comes 
into  contact  with  Jesus  and  remains  neutral. 
Christ,  and  especially  Christ  in  His  passion, 


Tuesday  after  Invocavit  33 

divides  men.  Here  are  the  shouting  multitude 
and  the  docile  disciples,  but  here  are  also  the 
murmuring  Pharisees,  the  plotting  Sanhedrin, 
the  crouching,  subtle,  greedy  traitor !  Every 
man,  when  Christ  comes  into  the  horizon  of  his 
life,  is  either  for  Him  or  against  Him.  Where 
are  you  ?  Force  the  question  on  your  heart  in- 
sistently. Not,  where  are  you  counted  by  your 
fellow-men ;  not,  where  do  you  profess  to  be, — 
but  ivhere  are  you?  When  Christ  is  opposed 
and  betrayed,  are  you,  for  good  and  ill,  for  time 
and  for  eternity, — are  you  on  His  side  ? 

3.  Learn  how  subtle  is  the  ap2:)roach  of  sin, 
Covetousness,  avarice,  the  desire  of  gain  grown 
masterful,  what  may  it  not  work  ?  Poor  Judas 
never  thought  when  he  first  found  the  carry- 
ing of  the  bag  so  pleasant,  that  he  would 
become  a  thief,  and  then  the  seller  of  the 
Saviour.  Nay,  when  he  had  gone  so  far  as  to 
strike  this  shameful  bargain,  he  little  thought 
it  meant  the  blood  and  death  of  Jesus.  Sin 
never  shows  its  *'  horrid  front "  in  all  its  ugli- 
ness, when  first  it  woos  its  timid  victim.  Do 
you  fear  its  first  and  lightest  invitation  ?  Do 
you  distrust  and  flee  its  slightest  approach? 
God  give  you  to  be  afraid ! 

Prayer.  O  Saviour  Who  hast  suffered,  and 
hast  not  halted  though  the  end  was  plain  be- 
fore Thee,  grant  that  my  heart,  in  steadfast  and 


34  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

unchanging  adoration,  may  praise  Thee  with 
*'Hosannas."  Though  all  else  should  strive 
against  Thee,  give  me  in  loyal,  loving  faith  to 
claim  Thee  as  King.  Since  I  am  so  weak,  O 
strengthen  me,  that  neither  dread  of  danger, 
greed  of  gain,  nor  any  other  hostile  power  may 
serve  to  turn  me  from  my  Lord,  Who  loved  me 
and  gave  Himself  for  me.     Amen. 


Wednesday  after  Invocavit 

And  on  the  first  day  of  unleavened  bread,  when  they 
sacrificed  the  passover,  his  disciples  say  unto  him,  Where 
wilt  thou  that  we  go  and  make  ready  that  thou  mayest  eat 
the  passover  ? 

And  he  sent  Peter  and  John,  and  said  unto  them.  Be- 
hold, when  ye  are  entered  into  the  city,  there  shall  meet 
you  a  man  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water ;  follow  him  into  the 
house  whereinto  he  goeth.  And  ye  shall  say  unto  the 
goodman  of  the  house,  The  Master  saith  unto  thee,  My 
time  is  at  hand.  Where  is  the  guest-chamber,  where  I  shall 
eat  the  passover  with  my  disciples?  And  he  will  himself 
shew  you  a  large  upper  room  furnished  :  there  make  ready. 
And  they  went,  and  found  as  he  had  said  unto  them  :  and 
they  made  ready  the  passover. 

And  when  it  was  evening,  and  the  hour  was  come,  he  sat 
down,  and  the  apostles  with  him.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
With  desire  I  have  desired  to  eat  this  passover  with  you 
before  I  suffer  :  for  I  say  unto  you,  I  shall  not  eat  it,  until 
it  be  fulfilled  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  And  he  received  a 
cup,  and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  said.  Take  this, 
and  divide  it  among  yourselves:  for  I  say  unto  you,  I  shall 
not  drink  from  henceforth  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  until 
the  kingdom  of  God  shall  come. 

And  there  arose  also  a  contention  among  them,  which  of 
them  was  accounted  to  be  greatest.  And  he  said  unto 
them,  The  kings  of  the  Gentiles  have  lordship  over  them  ; 
and  they  that  have  authority  over  them  are  called  Bene- 
factors. But  ye  shall  not  he  so  :  but  he  that  is  the  greater 
among  you,  let  him  become  as  the  younger;  and  he  that  is 
chief,  as  he  that  doth  serve.  For  whether  is  greater,  he 
that  sitteth  at  meat,  or  he  that  serveth  ?  is  not  he  that  sit- 
teth  at  meat?  but  I  am  in  the  midst  of  you  as  he  that 
serveth.  But  ye  are  they  that  have  continued  with  me  in 
35 


36  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

my  trials;  and  I  appoint  unto  you  a  kingdom,  even  as  my 
Father  appointed  unto  me,  that  ye  may  eat  and  drink  at 
my  table  in  my  kingdom ;  and  ye  shall  sit  on  thrones  judg- 
ing the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 

Preparing  for  the  Sacrifice.  The  gentle,  lov- 
hig,  pathetic  figure  of  the  Master  assumes  new- 
interest.  The  hour  draws  nearer,  and  He  takes 
guidance  of  those  preparations  which  must  have 
seemed  like  the  building  of  the  scaffold  by  the 
victim.  Not  blessed,  like  Isaac,  w4th  the  igno- 
rance that  could  ask  "  where  is  the  lamb  for  the 
offering?"  He,  knowing  Himself  to  be  the  sac- 
rifice, selected  with  firm  and  unhesitating  spirit, 
the  place  where  the  passover  should  be  eaten 
and  the  last  hours  spent.  Not  for  an  instant 
has  He  forgotten  all  that  it  means.  *'  Tell  the 
householder,"  says  He,  "my  time  is  at  hand." 

Around  the  Board.  It  is  the  hour  of  evening. 
His  full  heart  yearns  over  these.  His  friends. 
He  gives  most  loving  expression  of  His  longing 
for  this  hour  of  fellowship  with  them — this 
blessed  communion  around  the  passover  board 
— this  time  when,  in  the  mysterious  spiritual 
exaltation  of  the  hour,  they  could  better  re- 
ceive and  appreciate  some  of  the  precious  and 
sacred  truths  for  which  tliey  had  never  yet 
been  fit.  It  was  to  be  a  heart-to-heart  com- 
munion, and  His  soul  longed  to  refresh  itself  in 
this  loving  service  before  He  should  go  out 
to  gloom  and  agony.     Yet  sadness  lingered,  in 


Wednesday  after  Invocavit  37 

spite  of  the  realization  of  His  longing.  The 
approaching  separation  throws  its  shadow  upon 
Him.  "I  will  not  drink  henceforth  of  the 
fruit  of  the  vine  until  that  day  when  I  drink 
it  new  with  you  in  my  Father's  kingdom.'* 

A  new  grief  comes  to  His  already  sorely 
burdened  heart.  All  His  teaching,  and  all  His 
example  have  not  sufficed  to  give  spiritual  in- 
sight and  sympathy  to  these  dull  disciples. 
Not  realizing  what  He  says,  they  are  quarrel- 
ing about  the  official  station  each  is  to  have  in 
that  Kingdom  which,  so  they  fatuously  dream, 
He  is  about  to  establish.  "A  strife  among 
them  "  in  this  hour  of  all  hours.  The  rudest 
sort  of  discord  for  His  soul  to  hear,  tuned  as 
it  was  to  high  and  tender  themes.  He  was 
alone,  as  He  had  always  been,  and  as  we  shall 
see  Him  again.  Yet  no  rebuke  is  in  His  mouth; 
only  loving  teaching  concerning  the  beauty  of 
humility,  and  then  wonderful  promises  of  the 
rewards  and  blessings  that  are  yet  to  be. 

1.  Learn  a  lesson  of  trustful  obedience.  Our 
hearts  ought  to  rest  in  the  proof  we  have  here, — • 
a  proof  hallowed  by  association  with  His  passion, 
— of  Jesus'  provision  for  every  need  and  of  His 
direction,  in  all  things,  of  His  children.  Wise 
were  they  in  asking  only  Him,  *'  Where  wilt 
thou  that  we  shall  eat  ?  "  Let  the  Master  ar- 
range and  provide.     The  where,  and  how,  and 


38  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

when,  of  our  lives  are  His  affair.  He  who 
could  take  thought  like  this,  and  notice  even 
tlie  pitcher  belonging  to  the  man  whose  heart 
and  home  would  welcome  them,  will  not  fail  to 
see  the  every  need  of  every  life  submitted  to 
His  care,  and  take  thought  for  you.  Let  there 
be  only  an  obedient  trust ;  and,  as  it  was  then, 
so  will  it  always  be  "found  as  He  said  unto 
them."     Be  not  afraid  nor  anxious. 

2.  A  Lesson  of  Felloiv ship.  Shall  we  not  ap- 
preciate the  love  and  friendship  of  our  Lord  ? 
The  intensity  of  His  desire  was  not  so  fully 
met  as  it  should  have  been.  Shall  His  longing 
for  closeness  to  us,  for  kinship  and  communion, 
have  from  us  no  response  to  that  blessed  fellow- 
ship He  offers?  We  hear  Him  speak  of  His 
desire ;  and  do  not  our  hearts  faint  and  sicken 
as  we  think  how  we  have  desired  all  other 
tilings  more  than  His  fellowship  ?  Shall  not  we 
be  ashamed  and  repentant,  that  He,  the  Alto- 
gether Lovely,  should  crave  our  love  and  ten- 
derness, and  yet  be  met  and  pierced  with  our 
indifference  ? 

3.  A  Lesson  of  Humility.  Who  is  great? 
God's  thoughts  are  not  our  thoughts  as  we  an- 
swer. Ask  the  world.  Who  is  the  greatest?  and 
the  last  one  to  whom  the  world  will  point  is  the 
one  that  serves.  Yet  he  is  God's  great  man. 
What  is  3'our  standard  of  greatness  ?  Will  you 
be   ambitious?     It   is   right   to  be  ambitious; 


Wednesday  after  Invocavit  39 

only  seek  not  any  greatness  save  that  which 
God  counts  great.  Then  you  cannot  be  too 
ambitious.  Which  is  more  important,  God's 
opinion  or  that  of  the  heathen  ?  Do  you  care 
to  please  self  and  the  world,  or  Him  ? 

4.  A  Lesson  of  Faithfuhiess.  These  men 
were  poor,  dull  pupils  in  the  school  of  grace, 
but  to  their  utmost  they  were  faithful.  They 
continued.  God  give  us  the  grace  of  continu- 
ance !  Even  in  His  trials  and  sorrows  and  the 
assaults  of  Satan,  thus  far  they  had  continued. 
So  let  us  continue  with  Him  in  His  tempta- 
tions. In  this  Lenten  season  let  us  continue  in 
our  thoughts,  in  our  prayers,  in  our  sympathy, 
in  our  service  ;  let  us  continue  in  the  fellowship 
of  His  suffering.  There  is  rich  reward.  It  is 
good  to  continue  with  Him  through  good  and 
through  ill  report. 

Prayer.  O  Lord  of  Love,  Who  guidest  and 
carest  for  Thine  own,  help  us  to  trust  Thee  and 
to  dwell  in  Thine  unchanging  peace.  Help  us 
to  long  for  Thee,  even  as  the  hart  panteth  for 
the  water  brooks;  to  find  Thee,  to  taste  of 
Thee,  to  drink  the  living  water,  never  again  to 
thirst !  Deliver  us  from  the  deadness  of  in- 
difference. Make  us  to  abide  in  fellowship 
with  Thee,  and  so  deliver  us  from  sin  and  death 
and  hell,  O  Thou  Who  hast  in  bitterest  strife, 
conquered  these  our  deadly  foes.     Amen. 


Thursday  after  Invocavit 

Now  before  the  feast  of  the  passover,  Jesus  knowing  that 
his  hour  was  come  that  he  should  depart  out  of  this  world 
unto  the  Father,  having  loved  his  own  who  were  in  the 
world,  he  loved  them  unto  the  end.  And  during  supper, 
the  devil  having  already  put  into  the  heart  of  Judas  Is- 
cariot,  Simon's  son,  to  betray  him,  Jesus,  knowing  that  the 
Father  had  given  all  things  into  his  hands,  and  that  he 
came  forth  from  God,  and  goeth  unto  God,  riseth  from  sup- 
per, and  layeth  aside  his  garments  ;  and  he  took  a  towel, 
and  girded  himself.  Then  he  poureth  water  into  the 
bason,  and  began  to  wash  the  disciples'  feet,  and  to  wipe 
them  with  the  towel  wherewith  he  was  girded.  So  he 
Cometh  to  Simon  Peter.  He  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  dost 
thou  wash  my  feet  ?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now ;  but  thou  shalt  under- 
stand hereafter.  Peter  saith  unto  him,  Thou  shalt  never 
wash  my  feet.  Jesus  answered  him.  If  I  wash  thee  net, 
thou  hast  no  part  with  me.  Simon  Peter  saith  unto  him, 
Lord,  not  my  feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  my  head. 
Jesus  saith  to  him.  He  that  is  bathed  needeth  not  save 
to  wash  his  feet,  but  is  clean  every  whit :  and  ye  are  clean, 
but  not  all.  For  he  knew  him  that  should  betray  him  ; 
therefore  said  he,  ye  are  not  all  clean. 

So  when  he  had  washed  their  feet,  and  taken  his  gar- 
ments, and  sat  down  again,  he  said  unto  them,  Know  ye 
what  I  have  done  to  you?  Ye  call  me  Master,  and,  Lord: 
and  ye  say  well ;  for  so  I  am.  If  I  then,  the  Lord  and  the 
Master,  have  washed  your  feet,  ye  also  ought  to  wash  one 
another's  feet.  For  I  have  given  you  an  example,  that  ye 
also  should  do  as  I  have  done  to  you.  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  you,  A  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  lord  ;  neither 
one  that  is  sent  greater  than  he  that  sent  him.  If  ye 
40 


Thursday  after  Invocavit  41 

know  these  things,  blessed  are  ye  if  ye  do  them.  I  speak 
not  of  you  all :  I  know  whom  I  have  chosen  :  but  that  the 
scripture  may  be  fulfilled,  He  that  eateth  my  bread  lifted 
up  his  heel  against  me.  From  henceforth  I  tell  you  before 
it  come  to  pass,  that,  when  it  is  come  to  pass,  ye  may  be- 
lieve that  I  am  he.  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  He  that 
receiveth  whomsoever  I  send  receiveth  me ;  and  he  that  re- 
ceiveth  me  receiveth  him  that  sent  me. 

Loving  to  the  End.  The  pathetic  meaning  of 
the  words,  "  He  loved  them  to  the  end  "  we  can 
never  fathom.  They  are  the  key  to  the  whole 
story  of  the  life  of  Jesus,  and  most  of  all,  ap- 
propriate to  His  passion.  "  Having  loved  His 
own,  He  loved  them  to  the  end,"  though  He 
knew  that  His  time  was  come.  The  time  of 
His  deepest  humiliation,  the  time  for  His  ago- 
nizing suffering,  the  time  for  the  strange  mystery 
of  death  for  sinners,  under  the  burden  of  their 
sin,  the  time  for  glorifying  the  name  of  the 
Father,  as  it  never  had  been  glorified,  the  time 
for  the  testing  and  show^ing  forth  of  matchless 
love — when  this  time  was  come,  and  He  knew 
it,  He  loved  them  to  the  end.  This  is  more 
than  human  love.  A  mother's  love  has  failed 
in  agonies  far  less  than  these  which  He  was 
entering  upon,  and  in  the  desperation  of  the 
struggle  for  her  life,  she  has  forgotten  the  fruit 
of  her  own  body,  and  given  it  to  save  herself, — 
but  Jesus  loved  unto  the  end.  At  any  cost,  at 
every  cost,  His  love  won  the  victory ;  and,  look- 
ing into  the  face  of  death,  the  lurid  glare  of 


42  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

hell,  the  abandonment  by  His  Father,  the  ap- 
propriation of  that  weight  of  sin  which  would 
set  Him  apart  as  the  outcast  of  the  human 
race,  He  shrank  not  nor  withdrew.  This  ^vas 
love  to  the  end.  No  wonder  St.  John,  seeking 
through  the  universe  for  the  great  example, 
found  none  other  than  this,  and  called  aloud, 
"  Herein  is  love,  that  He  loved  us,"  "  Hereby 
know  we  love,  because  He  laid  down  His  life 
for  us."     (1  John  4  :  10  ;  3  :  16.) 

What  He  Knew.  He  could  not  have  borne 
His  intolerable  burden,  but  for  the  strength 
that  came  to  His  soul  with  other  knowledge. 
"Knowing  that  the  Father  had  given  all  things 
into  His  hand,  and  that  He  came  forth  from 
God,  and  goeth  unto  God,"  cheered,  nerved, 
and  comforted  by  this  knowledge,  He  could 
endure  and  persevere.  He  had  laid  aside  the 
use  of  His  Divine  Powers,  save  where  they 
were  needed  for  His  Father's  glory  and  the  ac- 
complishment of  His  task ;  but  in  these  last  days 
of  passion  His  Oneness  w4th  the  Father  in  His 
Divine  Nature,  upheld  and  gave  Him  power 
which  no  mere  man  could  have  possessed. 

The  Servant  of  All.  With  this  knowledge, 
in  this  strength.  He  rises  and  becomes  their 
servant ;  doing  most  menial  w^ork  for  them, 
teaching  these  poor,  unspiritual  souls,  by  deeds, 
what  He  liad  just  been  telling  them  in  words ; 
He  bears  with  impetuous  ignorant  Peter,  and 


Thursday  after  Invocavit  43 

speaks  calmly  of  the  traitor,  who  having  eaten 
His  bread,  now  lifteth  up  his  heel  against  Him. 
He  is  face  to  face  with  His  awful  agony  and 
death,  with  no  soul  to  sympathize,  and  with  the 
traitor's  falseness  pressing  on  His  heart.  Thus 
we  see  Him,  in  this  day's  lesson.  Oh,  for 
hearts  to  feel  His  woe,  endured  for  us. 

1.  The  devil  dares  even  to  enter  the  pres- 
ence of  Jesus,  Nearness  to  Christ  does  not  de- 
fend us  from  Satan's  assaults  and  power,  un- 
less we  are  spiritually  near  to  Him.  What  had 
the  adversary  to  do  with  this  feast?  Yet  he 
was  there :  and  to-day  he  is  in  the  pulpit,  in  the 
pew,  at  the  chancel  rail,  beside  us  in  our 
prayers  and  Bible  reading.  Making  the  sign 
of  the  cross  does  not  affright  him.  He  who 
was  at  the  feast  will  not  fail  to  be  at  our  holiest 
places  in  our  holiest  seasons.  Only  the  heart 
that  denies  him,  and  cleaves,  in  living  faith,  to 
Christ  the  Saviour,  is  safe. 

2.  Our  hearts  are  prone  to  rely  on  their  oiun 
wisdom^  and  not  to  submit  to  Christ.  Peter 
thought  he  was  honoring  Jesus,  in  saying, 
*'  Thou  shalt  never  wash  my  feet,"  but  he  was 
dishonoring  his  Lord.  He  was  assuming  that 
he  knew  better  than  his  Master,  what  was  right 
and  becoming.  He  was  mistaken,  but  we  make 
the  same  mistake.  Beware  of  judgments  and 
opinions  after  the  flesh.     Jesus  knows,  far  bet- 


44  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

ter  than  you  and  I,  what  is  good  for  us.     Oh, 
let  Him  have  His  way  with  you  ! 

3.  Many  problems  find  their  solution  in  that 
word  of  loving  rebuke  to  Peter,  "  What  I 
do,  thou  knowest  not  now,  but  thou  shalt  un- 
derstand hereafter."  We  should  feel  in  our 
perplexities  about  our  Lord  and  His  dealings 
with  us,  about  our  sorrows,  trials  and  disap- 
pointments, that  it  is  waste  of  time  to  ponder 
and  wonder  and  seek  to  know  7ioiv  /  We 
should  find  rest  in  the  sure  promise  that  we 
shall  understand  hereafter.  "  I  can't  under- 
stand why  I  should  be  so  afflicted ;  " — we  hear 
it  almost  every  day.  Poor,  sore  soul,  you  do  not 
need  to  understand.  You  need  only  to  trust 
7101V,  to  that  love  that  loves  on  to  the  end.  But 
hb  not  discouraged.  You  shall  understand ! 
Wait  only  for  His  time.  What  mysteries  and 
what  comfort  that  "  hereafter  "  holds  within  its 
secret  heart. 

4.  True  humility  is  7iot  for  shoio  nor  for 
speech,  but  for  service.  Christlike  humility 
does  not  spend  itself  in  idle  protestations.  It 
springs  from  Christlike  love,  and  like  all  love, 
it  labors.  No  servant  was  in  the  upper  cham- 
ber, and  each  disciple  was  unwilling  to  do  the 
menial  office  of  washing  the  dusty,  sandaled 
feet, — a  customary  courtesy.  So  Jesus  did  it, 
and  we  are  to  do  it.  Whenever,  in  the  service 
of  the  Church  or  of  our  fellow-men,  humble 


Thursday  after  Invocavit  45 

help  is  needed,  you  and  I  are  to  be  ready  to 
give  it.  Are  you  proud  ?  Too  proud  to  take 
the  lowly  place  of  service  that  is  offered  you? 
"  If  I,  your  Lord  and  Master,  have  washed  your 
feet  "  will  you  not  minister,  in  lowliest  service 
to  My  least  ones  ? 

5.  To  call  Him  Lord  and  Master  means 
obedience.  It  means  loyalty.  It  means  going 
when  He  says,  "  Go  " ;  and  coming  when  He 
says,  "Come";  and  doing  it,  when  He  says, 
"Do  this."  It  means  unquestioning  prompt- 
ness to  perform  His  bidding.  You  call  Him 
Saviour.  Have  you  known  v^^liat  it  means  to 
call  Him  Lord  and  Master  ? 

Prayer.  O  Christ,  Whose  love  has  never 
failed.  Whose  kingliness  was  hidden  in  the 
form  of  a  servant,  I  look  to  Thee,  of  Thy 
deep  love,  to  shield  me  from  my  soul's  great 
enemy;  to  make  and  keep  me  humble  and 
obedient,  resting  in  Thee  amidst  the  trials  of 
my  life,  seeking  to  serve  Thee,  in  my  service 
to  Thy  Church  and  to  Thy  brethren.  I  would 
withhold  from  Thee  and  from  Thy  governance, 
not  one  thing  of  all  that  Thou  hast  given  me, 
for  Thou  hast  not  withheld  Thyself  from  pain 
and  death  for  me.  Take  me,  and  use  and 
bless  me,  loving  Lord.     Amen* 


Friday  after  Invocavit 

When  Jesus  had  thus  said,  he  was  troubled  in  spirit,  and 
testified,  and  said,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  yon,  that  one 
of  you  shall  betray  me.  Then  the  disciples  looked  one  on 
another,  doubting  of  -whom  he  spake. 

And  as  they  sat  and  were  eating,  Jesus  said.  Verily  I  say 
unto  you,  One  of  you  shall  betray  me,  even  he  that  eateth 
with  me.  They  began  to  be  sorrowful,  and  to  say  unto 
him  one  by  one.  Is  it  I  ?  And  he  said  unto  them,  It  is  one 
of  the  twelve,  he  that  dippeth  with  me  in  the  dish. 

Now  there  was  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom  one  of  his  disci- 
ples, whom  Jesus  loved.  Simon  Peter  therefore  beckoned 
to  him,  that  he  should  ask  who  it  should  be  of  whom  he 
spake.  He  then  lying  on  Jesus'  breast  saith  unto  him, 
Lord,  who  is  it  ?  Jesus  answered.  He  it  is,  to  whom  I  shall 
give  a  sop,  when  I  have  dipped  it.  And  when  he  had  dipped 
the  sop,  he  gave  it  to  Judas  Iscariot,  the  so7i  of  Simon. 

And  he  said,  The  Son  of  man  goeth,  even  as  it  is  written 
of  him  :  but  woe  unto  that  man  through  whom  the  Son  of 
man  is  betrayed!  good  were  it  for  that  man  if  he  had  not 
been  born.  And  Judas,  which  betrayed  him,  said.  Is  it  I, 
Kabbi  ?  He  saith  unto  him,  Thou  hast  said.  And  after 
the  sop,  then  entered  Satan  into  him.  Jesus  therefore  saith 
unto  him.  That  thou  doest,  do  quickly.  Now  no  man  at 
the  table  knew  for  what  intent  he  spake  this  unto  him. 
For  some  tUought,  because  Judas  had  the  bag,  that  Jesus 
said  unto  him,  Buy  what  things  we  have  need  of  for  the 
feast;  or,  that  he  should  give  something  to  the  poor.  He 
then  having  received  the  sop  went  out  straightway :  and 
it  was  night. 

Therefore,  when  he  was  gone  out,  Jesus  said.  Now  is  the 
Son  of  man  glorified,  and  God  is  glorified  in  him.     If  God 
be  glorified  in  him,  God  shall  also  glorify  him  in  himself, 
and  shall  straightway  glorify  him. 
46 


Friday  after  Invocavit  47 

Deepening  Gloom.  Let  us  linger  again  with 
the  Master.  The  scene  is  the  same,  but  the 
opening  words  of  the  lesson  tell  us  of  the  ever 
deepening  gloom  that  was  oppressing  the  heart 
of  Jesus.  "He  was  troubled  in  the  spirit." 
"  A  wounded  spirit,  who  can  bear  ?  "  The  time 
He  had  apprehended,  when  the  blackness  of 
treachery  must  be  revealed,  was  at  hand :  the 
time  to  draw  the  line  between  honest  and  dis- 
honest men,  to  separate  between  simple-hearted 
loyalty  and  the  hypocritical  traitor ;  the  time 
that  marked  the  actual  beginning  of  the  pierc- 
ing of  His  heart.  "  He  was  troubled  in  the 
spirit." 

A  Warning  Word.  A  heart  that  had  no  such 
love  in  it  as  Jesus'  had,  would  not  have  felt 
this  blow  so  keenly.  If  His  love  had  not  been 
more  than  any  other  love  He  could  not  have 
persevered.  Even  now  He  speaks,  although  too 
late  to  save  the  criminal  from  his  deed  of 
wretched  sin  and  folly,  a  warning  word  :  "  The 
Son  of  man  goeth  as  it  is  written  of  Him," — 
(and  none  but  He  felt  what  that  "  going " 
meant) — "  but  woe  unto  that  man  through 
whom  the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed !  Good  were 
it  for  that  man  if  he  had  not  been  born."  But 
the  traitor's  ears  are  closed,  his  heart  is  seared. 
He  has  sold  himself  to  Satan  of  his  own  free 
choice  ;  and  the  Master  at  last  sends  him  forth 
— away  from  the  inner  circle,  away  from  the 


48  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

friends  of  Jesus.  This  "What  thou  cloest  do 
quickly,"  was  the  judgment  of  Judas.  Then, 
and  not  when  he  had  hanged  himself,  was  his 
doom  fixed.  The  Master  felt  that  the  hour 
must  speed.  Not  much  longer  could  He  endure 
the  polluting  presence.  And  He  had  that  to  do 
and  say  which  the  traitor's  presence  made  im- 
possible. Yes,  He  who  is  love,  out  of  love  for 
those  who  love  Him,  has  spoken  and  will  speak 
again  the  word  that  shall  send  to  the  outer 
darkness  His  foes. 

1.  How  much  sorroiu  sin  brings !  If  only 
the  sinner  suffered,  sin  would  not  be  so  terrible. 
But  Jesus  was  troubled  in  spirit,  and  the  dis- 
ciples began  to  be  sorrowful,  and  if  the  angels 
knew,  they  doubtless  wept,  all  because  of  the 
crime  of  one  traitor.  Even  those  who  did  not 
understand  what  was  transpiring  felt  a  malign 
and  distressful  influence  upon  them.  And  the 
traitors  to  Jesus  to-day, — those  who,  in  His 
livery,  assail  Him  by  false  teaching,  lessening 
His  influence,  and  tending  to  destroy  His 
power;  or-those  who  bear  His  name,  but  lack 
His  spirit,  denying  the  power  while  they  hold 
the  form  of  godliness ; — these,  too,  bring  sorrow 
to  Him  who  shall  not  be  satisfied  until  He  sees 
of  the  travail  of  His  soul,  and  they  bring  sorrow 
to  the  Church  and  to  the  friends  of  Jesus. 
How  horrible  is  treachery  to  Christ  I     Oh,  the 


Friday  after  Invocavit  49 

awfulness  of  selling  Jesus,  by  yielding  convic- 
tion and  truth,  for  gain  or  selfish  satisfaction ! 

2.  We  can  sympathize  with  those  honest 
souls,  who,  although  sure  of  their  sincerity, 
were  yet  distrustful  of  themselves^  and  asked,  Is 
it  I,  Lord ;  Is  it  possible  that  I  am  wounding 
Thee,  or  that  I  could  betray  Thy  cause  ?  O 
keep  me,  for  I  cannot  be  sure  of  myself,  unless 
through  every  day  and  every  hour,  my  life  is 
hid  with  Thee  in  God !  Let  us  be  more  diffi- 
dent and  suspicious  of  ourselves  and  of  our 
capacity  to  resist  sin !  Far  better  ask  with 
these  honest  but  weak  disciples, '*  Lord,  is  it 
I  ?  "  than  sing,  "  Surely  the  Captain  may  depend 
on  me  !  "  Then,  too,  would  that  we  were  more 
ready  to  ask  the  question  when  He  sends  forth 
the  cry  for  workers,  ministers,  missionaries, 
men  to  strengthen  and  sustain  with  consecrated 
gifts  the  work  of  the  church!  Who  is  His 
chosen  one?     "Lord,  is  it  I?  " 

3.  What  a  blessed  pilloio  is  the  breast  of 
Jesus  I  Oh,  for  more  Johns  who  will  lie  there, 
whose  hearts  beat  in  sympathy  with  His,  who 
with  zeal  and  devotion,  like  the  Beloved 
Disciple,  find  the  fire  of  their  souls  re- 
newed by  abiding  in  closest  communion  with 
Him.  John's  life  of  activity  is  explained  by 
the  nearness  of  his  spiritual  communion  with 
Jesus.  We  do  not  abide  enough  in  fellowship 
with  our  Master,  through  prayer  and  the  study 


50  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

of  His  word,  so  that  He  may  fill  us  with  His 
Spirit  and  send  us  forth  with  shining  faces  to 
His  work. 

4.  "  Glorified.''^  Are  you,  too,  ready  to  glorify 
God  as  Jesus  did?  The  glory  of  ohedience 
even  unto  the  uttermost,  is  it  the  glory  you 
are  giving  Him  ?  The  glory  of  self-sacrifice  for 
Him  and  in  His  cause,  do  you  know  it  ?  The 
glory  that  comes  through  patient  endurance  of 
the  trials  He  sends,  the  sorrows  that  come  from 
His  hand,  is  this  your  sphere  ?  Thus  the  be- 
loved Son  gave  glory  to  His  Father,  and  we 
too  can  give  Him  glory.     (John  15  :  8.) 

Prayer.  O  Christ,  whose  heart  was  troubled 
by  the  treachery  of  Thy  disciple,  grant  me  a 
steadfast,  faithful  spirit  of  obedience  and  love ; 
to  the  end  that,  heart  to  heart  with  Thee,  my 
life  may  show  Thy  spirit,  and  may  glorify  Thy 
Name,  whether  in  service  or  in  sacrifice  and 
sorrow.    Ame7i, 


Saturday  after  Invocavit 

And  as  they  were  eating,  Jesus  took  bread,  and  blessed, 
and  brake  it ;  and  he  gave  to  the  disciples,  and  said.  Take, 
eat ;  this  is  my  body ;  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me.  And 
the  cup,  in  like  manner  after  supper,  and  gave  thanks, 
and  gave  to  them,  saying,  Drink  ye  all  of  it ;  for 
this  is  my  blood  of  the  covenant,  which  is  shed  for  you 
and  for  many  unto  remission  of  sins.  But  I  say  unto  you, 
I  shall  not  drink  henceforth  of  this  fruit  of  the  vine,  until 
that  day  when  I  drink  it  niew  with  you  in  my  Father's 
kingdom.     And  they  all  drank  of  it. 

Little  children,  yet  a  little  while  I  am  with  you.  Ye 
shall  seek  me :  and  as  I  said  unto  the  Jews,  Whither  I  go, 
ye  cannot  come ;  so  now  I  say  unto  you.  A  new  command- 
ment I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love  one  another ;  even  as  I 
have  loved  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another.  By  this 
shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have 
love  one  to  another. 

Simon  Peter  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  whither  goest  thou  ? 
Jesus  answered,  Whither  I  go,  thou  canst  not  follow  me 
now ;  but  thou  shalt  follow  afterward.  Peter  saith  unto 
him.  Lord,  why  cannot  I  follow  thee  even  now  ?  I  will 
lay  down  my  life  for  thee.  And  in  like  manner  also  said 
they  all.  Jesus  answereth,  Wilt  thou  lay  down  thy  life 
for  me?  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  the  cock  shall 
not  crow,  till  thou  hast  denied  me  thrice. 

Simon,  Simon,  behold,  Satan  asked  to  have  you,  that  he 
might  sift  you  as  wheat :  but  I  made  supplication  for  thee, 
that  thy  faith  fail  not :  and  do  thou,  when  once  thou  hast 
turned  again,  stablish  thy  brethren.  And  he  said  unto 
him.  Lord,  with  thee  I  am  ready  to  go  both  to  prison  and 
to  death.  And  he  said,  I  tell  thee,  Peter,  the  cock  shall 
not  crow  this  day,  until  thou  shalt  thrice  deny  that  thou 
knowest  me. 

51 


52  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

And  he  said  unto  them,  When  I  sent  you  forth  without 
purse,  and  wallet,  and  shoes,  lacked  ye  anything?  And 
they  said,  Nothing.  And  he  said  unto  them,  But  now,  he 
that  hath  a  purse,  let  him  take  it,  and  likewise  a  wallet : 
and  he  that  hath  none,  let  him  sell  his  cloke,  and  buy  a 
sword.  For  I  say  unto  you,  that  this  which  is  written 
must  be  fulfilled  in  me.  And  he  was  reckoned  with  trans- 
gressors :  for  that  which  concerueth  me  hath  fulfilment. 
And  they  said,  Lord,  behold,  here  are  two  swords.  And 
he  said  unto  them,  It  is  enough. 

Loves  Feast.  The  Master  is  unwilling  to 
leave  His  disciples,  and  to  leave  those  who 
should  afterward  believe  on  Him  through  their 
word,  without  a  tangible,  visible  remembrance 
of  Him,  a  means  of  communion  with  Him,  of 
partaking  of  Him.  In  these  solemn  hours  of 
the  last  night,  amidst  associations  and  influ- 
ences forever  memorable,  He  breaks  the  bread 
that  becomes  the  mystic  means  of  sharing  in 
His  body,  and  gives  the  cup  that  brings  to  him 
who  takes,  the  blood  also  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Forever  holy,  precious  Sacrament, — how 
short  of  sight  and  hurtful  to  themselves  are 
those  who  count  it  naught,  or  empty  it  of  what 
our  Lord  put  in  it,  at  this  most  impressive  in- 
stitution of  the  Feast ! 

What  a  reminder  of  His  love  it  is,  not  only 
in  its  very  essence,  but  by  recalling  to  us  how, 
at  this  awful  season,  He  was  not  thinking  of 
Himself  but  of  His  dear  disciples  ; — not  of  His 
sufferings,  but  of  the  church  He  was  about  to 


Saturday  after  Invocavit  53 

purchase  with  His  blood,  and  which  through 
this  most  refreshing  and  salutary  feast,  should 
show  His  death  until  He  come ! 

Still  Self -For  (J  etf III.  And  now,  still  self-for- 
getful, tenderly  He  strengthens  and  prepares 
His  loved  ones  for  the  tragic  separation  He  fore- 
sees— "A  little  while,"  He  says,  and  He  tells 
them  of  strange  trials  about  to  encompass 
them,  of  the  prayers  that  He  is  offering  and  of 
the  terrible  doom  that  hangs  above  Him.  His 
burden  was  made  heavier  because  they  did  not 
understand.  He  had  no  sympathy.  The  heart's 
deepest  need,  a  friend  who  knows  and  feels, 
He  had  not.  "  Lord,  here  are  two  swords  ; " 
— so  literal  and  earthly  in  their  interpretation, 
were  they,  with  no  thought  of  the  spirit  of  His 
words ! 

1.  The  meaning  of  the  Holy  Supper  appears 
in  view  of  the  circumstances  of  its  institution. 
If  it  had  been  commanded  long  afterward, 
through  Peter  or  Paul,  it  could  never  have 
seemed  what  it  is,  even  though  it  had  brought 
the  same  grace  to  us.  But  now,  when  we  ap- 
proach the  feast,  we  may  always  imagine  that 
table  in  the  upper  room,  the  solemn  faces  of 
the  eleven,  the  strange  mingling  of  majesty  and 
manhood  in  the  Master, — and  without,  the  form 
of  the  traitor  slinking  through  the  darkness, 
and  just  ahead,  Gethsemane,  the  torches,  the 


54  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

trials,  the  scourge,  the  moh,  the  yells  of  rage, 
the  cross  I  Oh,  count,  dear  ransomed  soul,  the 
price  of  this  feast,  and  stay  not  away  when  the 
table  is  spread !  It  cost  too  much  for  us  to 
prize  it  lightly.  Come,  show  your  -Saviour's 
death  and  look  forward  to  His  coming  !  Feed 
on  this  Bread  of  Heaven,  drink  of  this  Wine  of 
Heaven,  and  be  refreshed.  God  forbid  that  we 
should  name  His  Name,  and  yet,  despise  the 
feast  of  His  Body  and  Blood. 

2.  With  tender  power  comes  from  the  Lord 
of  Love,  in  this  supremest  hour  of  sacrifice  for 
love's  sake,  the  command  to  love  each  other. 
What  a  measure  His  own  love  furnishes, — "  As 
I  have  loved  you," — when  we  hear  those  words 
coming  to  us  from  out  this  agony  of  love's  self- 
abnegation  !  Tlius  are  we  to  love  one  another. 
And  a  marked  manifestation  of  love  is  demanded 
when  He  tells  us  that  our  love  is  to  be  the  badge 
of  our  discipleship.  "  By  this  shall  all  men 
know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  because  ye  have 
love  one  toward  another."  Such  was,  indeed, 
the  love  of  the  early  Christians.  Li  plague  and 
pestilence,  in  trial  and  persecution,  the  follow- 
ers of  the  Nazarene  so  clung  to  one  another 
that  the  heathen,  astonished,  could  not  but 
recognize  a  strange,  new  power  in  the  world. 
It  is  not  enough  to  feel  love  ;  we  must  show  it. 
All  men  should  know  us  by  our.  mutual  love. 
Are  you  thus  marked  as  a  disciple  of  the  Lov- 


Saturday  after  Invocavit  55 

ing  One?  Think  of  this.  Meditate  and  search 
your  heart  as  to  this  duty,  so  tenderly  and 
solemnly  enjoined. 

3.  The  mystery  of  temptation  and  trial,  hoiu 
strange  it  is  !  Why  could  not  He  who  assured 
the  final  victory  of  Peter  have  prevented  the 
temptation  also?  We  do  not  know.  It  is 
enough  that  He  wills  it.  But  is  it  not  suggest- 
ive that  after  this  temptation  and  fall,  Peter 
never  again  was  self-confident?  Some  men  can 
be  taught  no  otherwise  than  by  failure.  Could 
this  self-deceived,  impetuous,  untried  Peter 
ever  have  strengthened  his  brethren  as  the 
chastened,  instructed,  rescued  Peter  did? 
Count  upon  it,  God  has  a  purpose  in  suffering 
us  to  be  tried, — a  purpose  for  ourselves,  and 
for  our  influence.  Have  you  been  tried?  Have 
you  been  preserved?  Are  you  strengthening 
your  brethren  ? 

Prayer.  Lord,  Who  knowest  us  in  our  weak- 
ness and  our  need ;  Who  knowest  our  powers 
to  suffer  and  endure ;  give  us  the  training  and 
the  testing  which  Thou  seest  we  ought  to  have, 
but  keep  us  through  it  all !  Burn  out  our 
dross  and  make  us  strong  to  love  and  thus  to 
testify  for  Thee.  And  give  us  power  to  glorify 
Thy  Name  among  our  brethren,  Thou  Who 
hast  so  loved  us.     Amen, 


Monday  after  Reminiscere,  which  is  the  second 
Sunday  in  Lent 

Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled :  believe  in  God,  believe 
also  in  me.  In  my  Father's  house  are  many  mansions  ;  if 
it  were  not  so,  I  would  have  told  you ;  for  I  go  to  prepare 
a  place  for  you.  And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I 
come  again,  and  will  receive  you  unto  myself ;  that  where 
I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also.  And  whither  I  go,  ye  know 
the  way.  Thomas  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  we  know  not 
whither  thou  goest ;  how  know  we  the  way  ?  Jesus  saith 
unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life  :  no 
one  Cometh  unto  the  Father,  but  by  me.  If  ye  had  known 
me,  ye  would  have  known  my  Father  also:  from  hence- 
forth ye  know  him,  and  have  seen  him.  Philip  saith  unto 
him,  Lord,  shew  us  the  Father,  and  it  sufficeth  us.  Jesus 
saith  unto  him,  Have  I  been  so  loDg  time  with  you,  and 
dost  thou  not  know  me,  Philip?  he  that  hath  seen  me  hath 
seen  the  Father;  how  sayest  thou.  Shew  us  the  Father? 
Believest  thou  not  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father 
in  me?  the  words  that  I  say  unto  you  I  speak  not  from 
myself:  but  the  Father  abiding  in  me  doeth  his  works. 
Believe  me  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  me  : 
or  else  believe  me  for  the  very  works'  sake.  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you.  He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I 
do  shall  he  do  also ;  and  greater  ivorls  than  these  shall  he 
do;  because  I  go  unto  the  Falher.  And  whatsoever  ye 
shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father  may 
be  glorified  in  the  Son.  If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my 
name,  that  will  I  do.  If  ye  love  me,  ye  will  keep  my  com- 
mandments. And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall 
give  you  another  Comforter,  that  he  may  be  with  you  for- 
ever, even  the  Spirit  of  truth :  whom  the  world  cannot  re^ 
ceive  ;  for  it  beholdeth  him  not,  neither  knowetb  him:  ye 
66 


Monday  after  Reminiscere  57 

know  him  ;  for  be  abidetli  with  you,  and  shall  be  in  you. 
I  will  not  leave  you  desolate :  I  come  unto  you.  Yet  a 
little  while,  and  the  world  beholdeth  me  no  more  ;  but  ye 
behold  me  :  because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also.  In  that  day 
ye  shall  know  that  I  am  in  my  Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and  I 
in  you.  He  that  hath  my  commandments,  and  keepeth 
them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me :  and  he  that  loveth  me  shall 
be  loved  of  my  Father,  and  I  will  love  him,  and  will  mani- 
fest myself  unto  him.  Judas  (not  Iscariot)  saithunto  him. 
Lord,  what  is  come  to  pass  that  thou  wilt  manifest  thyself 
unto  us,  and  not  unto  the  world  ?  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  him.  If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my  word :  and 
my  Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and 
make  our  abode  with  him.  He  that  loveth  me  not  keepeth 
not  my  words :  and  the  word  which  ye  hear  is  not  mine, 
but  the  Father's  who  sent  me. 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  while  yet  abiding 
with  you.  But  the  Comforter,  even  the  Holy  Spirit,  whom 
the  Father  will  send  in  my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all 
things,  and  bring  to  your  remembrance  all  that  I  said  unto 
you.  Peace  I  leave  with  you  ;  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  : 
not  as  the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  fearful.  Ye  heard  how 
I  said  to  you,  I  go  away,  and  I  come  unto  you.  If  ye 
loved  me,  ye  would  have  rejoiced,  because  I  go  unto  the 
Father :  for  the  Father  is  greater  than  I.  And  now  I 
have  told  you  before  it  come  to  pass,  that,  when  it  is  come 
to  pass,  ye  may  believe.  I  will  no  more  speak  much  with 
you,  for  the  prince  of  the  world  cometh :  and  he  hath  noth- 
ing in  me;  but  that  the  world  may  know  that  I  love  the 
Father,  and  as  the  Father  gave  me  commandment,  even  so 
I  do.     Arise,  let  us  go  hence. 

Let  7iot  your  heart  he  troubled.  His  own 
heart  near  the  time  when  it  would  break  with 
the  weight  of  the  world's  sin,  hear  this  wonder- 
ful lover  of  men  say  to  His  disciples,  "  Let  not 


58  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

your  heart  be  troubled."  Bidding  them  trust 
in  Him  He  tells  them  where  He  is  going,  and 
why, — then  tells  them  to  look  again  for  His 
coming.  Men  count  Him  only  the  greatest  of 
human  heroes,  but  He  did  not  so  count  Him- 
self. Hear  Him  say,  *'  I  am  the  Way  and  the 
Truth  and  the  Life."  No  other  man  ever  dared 
utter  such  words  as  these.  If  He  is  not  Very 
God  of  Very  God,  then  the  Jews  were  right, 
and  we  with  them  must  take  up  stones  to  pun- 
ish the  blasphemer.  But  He  is  the  Way,  and 
that  because  He  is  the  truth  and  the  life.  For 
only  he  who  knows  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ 
Jesus,  and  who  shares  the  life  of  the  Saviour 
(1  John  5 :  12),  is  in  the  Way,  and  shall  enter 
the  blessed  city  which  is  the  goal.  To  know 
the  truth  is  not  enough;  one  must  live  it. 
Pure  doctrine,  received  and  defended  ever  so 
ardently,  is  not  truly  appropriated  unless  it 
shows  in  the  life.  Christ  is  really  mine,  to  save 
and  bless  me,  only  when  my  life,  lived  in  His 
Spirit,  enforces  the  truth  that  my  faith  concern- 
ing Him  is  .correct  in  substance.  To  liim  to 
whom  He  is  the  Truth  and  the  Life,  Christ  is 
also  the  Way. 

The  Message  Concerning  Himself.  Here  is  the 
message  of  Christ  about  Himself,  in  the  closing 
hours  of  His  earthly  life.  He  is  the  Way  ;  He 
is  one  witli  the  Father  ;  He  is  the  sender  of  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  whoso  honors  the  Father    truly, 


Monday  after  Reminiscere  59 

honors  Him  in  the  Son;  whoso  receives  the 
Holy  Ghost,  the  Paraclete,  receives  Him  as  the 
gift  of  the  Father  and  the  Son, — Him  whose 
office  it  is  to  lead  them  into  all  truth,  and  make 
real  to  them  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  the  Father. 

1.  Do  you  believe  Him  ?  This  is  His  pa- 
thetic plea  to  the  disciples  not  only  of  that  day, 
but  of  every  day.  "  Believe  also  in  me."  "  Be- 
lievest  thou  not  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and 
the  Father  in  me  ?  "  *'  Believe  me  ....  or 
else  believe  me  for  the  very  works'  sake."  *'  I 
have  told  you  ....  that  ....  ye  may  believe." 
Oh,  believe  Him  !  How  can  you  doubt  Him  ? 
and  your  faith,  though  so  little,  is  all  he  asks. 
Do  you  believe  ?  Then  your  heart's  trouble 
ceases.  Then  the  peace  He  leaves  with  you  is 
yours.  Then  you  have  the  truth  and  the  life, 
and  are  in  the  way.  Then  you  know  that  the 
mansion  is  preparing  for  you  and  that  He  will 
come  again  to  receive  you  to  Himself.  Then  you 
recognize  His  claim,  and  honor  Him  and  the 
Father  and  the  Paraclete  as  one  God.  Then 
you  are  doing  the  ''  greater  works  "  which,  in 
the  power  of  His  Spirit,  His  disciples  are  en- 
abled to  accomplish.     Do  you  believe  ? 

2.  Do  you  ash  in  His  Name  f  Do  you  know 
what  it  is  to  pray,  pleading  His  merit,  identi- 
fying yourself  with  Him,  and  your  cause  with 
His,  counting  on  His  intercession,  living  in  His 


6o  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Spirit,  and,  proving  His  promises,  finding  Him 
faithful?  Our  prayers  should  find  answer;  do 
yours?  If  not,  enter  His  school  of  prayer  and 
learn  this  first  and  last  lesson  of  the  Christian 
life. 

3.  Have  you  received  the  Comforter?  or  as 
we  ought  to  say,  for  it  means  so  much  more, 
the  Paraclete?  that  is,  the  Holy  Spirit,  "One 
called  to  our  side,"  who  is  our  Helper  in  all 
things, — the  One  who  may  be  called  on  in  every 
need,  for  every  grace.  Have  you  received  Him? 
Not  only  in  baptism,  but  also  through  Word 
and  Sacrament  in  a  believing  heart,  again  and 
again,  in  abiding,  increasing,  richer,  fuller 
measure?  The  world  cannot  receive  Him,  but 
He  is  the  believer's  most  blessed  Gift  and  Por- 
tion. Is  He  yours? — comforting,  teaching, 
leading,  bringing  to  your  remembrance  the 
things  of  Christ?  There  is  no  more  important 
question  than  this.  He  came  to  you  in  your 
baptism,  and  many  a  time  since  then  through 
His  Holy  Word.  Did  you  receive  and  welcome 
Him  ?  Is  He  abiding  with  you  ?  Is  He  in 
you? 

4.  Do  you  love  the  Lord?  Not  in  mere 
words  and  empty  protestations,  but  by  the 
Master's  test?  Are  you  keeping  His  command- 
ments? "  He  that  hath  my  commandments  and 
keepeth  them,  lie  it  is  that  loveth  me."  "Many 
shall  say  in  that  day,  *  Lord,  Lord,'  and  I  shall 


Monday  after  Reminiscere  61 

say,  *I  never  knew  you/  "  Will  He  say  that 
to  you  ?  Oh,  our  life,  the  life  of  the  children 
of  God,  is  one  in  which  the  law  of  love  and 
liberty  is  the  will  of  God  in  Christ.  And  this, 
not  because  we  must^  but  because,  out  of  our 
Spirit-filled  hearts,  we  long  and  love  to  please 
Him.  What  is  the  law  of  your  life?  Do  you 
ask,  "Is  it  pleasant?"  "  Is  it  what  I  want  to 
do  ?"  or  do  you  only  wish  to  know  whether  it 
is  what  He  would  have  you  do  ?  Blessed  the 
man  who  loves  Him  in  deed  as  well  as  in  word, 
for  He  says,  "  My  Father  will  love  him,  and 
we  will  come  unto  him  and  make  our  abode 
with  him."  That  is  enough.  Come,  Lord 
Jesus  ? 

Prayer.  O  Thou,  Who  in  Thine  hours  of  bit- 
terness didst  think  of  me,  Who  couldst  not 
leave  me  orphaned, — Lord,  I  believe,  help  Thou 
mine  unbelief.  In  Thy  Name  alone  I  plead, 
and  Thou  wilt  do  for  me  !  Oh,  give  me  ever 
more  fully,  by  Thy  chosen  means,  the  Holy 
Ghost,  that  He  may  work  freely  within  me ! 
And  do  Thou,  O  Christ,  come  with  the  Father, 
to  let  me  be  Thy  dwelling  place.  Teach  me  to 
love  Thee  more,  to  keep  Thy  words,  to  do  Thy 
will.  Grant  me  Thy  promised  peace,  and  keep 
my  heart  from  fearfulness,  for  Thou  art  my  hope 
and  my  joy.     Amen, 


Tuesday  after  Reminiscere 

I  am  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the  husbandmaD. 
Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  he  taketh  it 
away:  and  every  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  cleauseth  it, 
that  it  may  bear  more  fruit.  Already  ye  are  clean  because 
of  the  word  which  I  have  spoken  unto  you.  Abide  in  me, 
and  I  in  you.  As  the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself, 
except  it  abide  in  the  vine ;  so  neither  can  ye,  except  ye 
abide  in  me.  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches  :  He 
that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  Him,  the  same  beareth  much 
fruit:  for  apart  from  me  ye  can  do  nothing.  Ha  man 
abide  not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  with- 
ered ;  and  they  gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire, 
and  they  are  burned.  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words 
abide  in  you,  ask  whatsoever  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be  done 
unto  you.  Herein  is  my  Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear 
much  fruit;  and  so  shall  ye  be  my  disciples.  Even  as  the 
Father  hath  loved  me,  I  also  have  loved  you  :  abide  ye  in 
my  love.  If  ye  keep  my  commandments,  ye  shall  abide  in 
my  love ;  even  as  I  have  kept  my  Father's  commandments, 
and  abide  in  his  love.  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto 
you,  that  my  joy  may  be  in  you,  and  that  your  joy  may  be 
made  full.  This  is  my  commandment,  that  ye  love  one 
another,  even  as  I  have  loved  you.  Greater  love  hath  no 
man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends. 
Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  the  things  which  I  command 
you.  No  longer  do  I  call  you  servants ;  for  the  servant 
knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth :  but  I  have  called  you 
friends  ;  for  all  things  that  I  heard  from  my  Father  I  have 
made  known  unto  you.  Ye  did  not  choose  me,  but  I  chose 
you,  and  appointed  you,  that  ye  should  go  and  bear  fruit, 
and  that  your  fruit  should  a])ide  :  that  whatsoever  ye  shall 
ask  of  the  Father  in  my  name,  he  may  give  it  you.  These 
things  I  command  you,  that  ye  may  love  one  another. 
62 


Tuesday  after  Reminiscere  63 

The  Test  of  Love.  The  only  reference  to  His 
passion  which  the  Lord  Jesus  makes  in  this 
day's  portion,  is  in  the  verse,  "  Greater  love 
hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his 
life  for  his  friends."  And  then  He  says,  "  Ye 
are  my  friends."  Most  of  us  would  assuredly 
shrink  from  such  a  test  of  friendship,  still  more 
when  those  for  whom  we  were  to  show  this 
wonderful  love  were  not  friendly  to  us,  but 
even  enemies,  fierce  and  cruel  and  utterly  un- 
appreciative — still  more  if  the  agonies  and  bit- 
terness of  the  death  we  must  die  were  more 
and  heavier  than  the  sum -total  of  all  human 
sufferings  could  be,  a  million  million  deaths  in 
one  !  For  that  Divine  One  who  took  humanity 
upon  Him,  suffered  out  of  the  infinite  capacity 
of  His  divine  nature ;  because  of  this  union  of 
the  divine  with  the  human  in  His  marvelous 
Person,  He  suffered  tortures  of  heart  and  mind 
and  body  that  were  infinite, — so  that  His  suffer- 
ing and  death  are  of  infinite  worth,  and  more 
than  suffice  for  our  every  need.  Thus  "  He 
laid  down  His  life  for  His  friends,"  taking  their 
place  and  penalty,  to  free  them  from  their  fate. 
Oh,  that  we  could  count  the  worth  of  love  like 
this  !     It  is  inestimably  precious. 

Sublime  Messages,  These  parting  words  of 
Jesus,  spoken  in  the  upper  room  that  last  even- 
ing, are  strangely  beautiful.  Each  phrase  is 
like  a  gem,  and  you  need  to  turn  it  this  way 


64  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

and  that,  to  catch  the  lights  it  flashes  from 
many  an  angle.  All  that  has  association  with 
His  sufferings, — promises,  commands,  exhorta- 
tions, teachings  that  come  out  of  His  last  days 
of  earthly  trial, — seem  marked  by  a  mysterious 
sublimity  that  sets  them  apart,  alone. 

TJie  Vine.  One  other  thing  needs  to  be 
njoticed  of  Him  here.  It  is  the  relation  He 
claims  to  all  souls  that  have  spiritual  life.  A 
branch  cannot  have  life  apart  from  the  vine ; 
and  He  is  the  vine.  The  life  sap  is  in  Him. 
Vital  touch  with  Him,  ingrafting  into  Him, 
this  is  the  chief  thing.  Again  it  is  clear  that 
herein  He  claims  what  it  were  blasphemy  for 
any  mere  man  to  claim.  He  is  the  vine,  the 
life  source,  the  uniting  bond,  the  sustaining 
and  fructifying  root-spring  of  the  whole. 

As  we  meditate  to-day  we  find  before  us 
questions  that  are  peculiarly  heart-searching. 

1.  Are  you  a  branch  in  Him  ?  That  is,  do 
you  abide  in  Him  ?  The  question  may  seem 
hard  to  answer.  Most  of  us  think  of  abiding 
in  Jesus  ds  a  high  attainment,  the  acme  of 
long  endeavor.  But  it  is  not  so.  To  abide  is 
the  simplest,  easiest  thing.  A  babe  once  put 
within  its  mother's  arms  can  abide  there.  It 
cannot  do  anything  else,  wherever  you  place  it, 
but  abide.  The  Master  enjoins  upon  us  this 
relation  of  mutual  abiding.     He  expects  it.  He 


Tuesday  after  Remlniscere  65 

commands  it.  A  comparison  of  John  6 :  56, 
with  this  passage  sheds  much  light  upon  the 
question  of  abiding.  There  it  reads,  "  He  that 
eateth  my  flesh  and  drinketh  my  blood,  abideth 
in  me."  (Revised  Version — The  Greek  word 
translated  "  dwelleth  "  is  the  same  as  "  abideth  " 
here  in  John  15.)  A  study  of  the  context 
shows  that  the  eating  and  drinking  here  re- 
ferred to  is  not  that  which  we  enjoy  in  the  sac- 
rament of  the  Lord's  Body  and  Blood,  but  is 
that  participation  in  Christ  which  every  be- 
liever has,  the  life  communion  which  exists 
continually,  and  not  only  in  the  reception  of 
the  Lord's  Supper.  Whoever  habitually  feeds 
by  faith  upon  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  he  abideth 
in  Him.  It  is  like  the  analogy  of  food.  I  do 
not  need  to  be  always  eating,  in  order  that 
the  food  abide  in  me  and  I  in  it.  But  if  I 
partake  of  food  at  suitable  intervals,  it  is  in- 
corporated into  my  body  and  I  abide  in  it.  Are 
you  then  abiding  in  Christ  ?  It  means,  '*  Are 
you  a  true  believer  ?  Do  you  feed  upon  Him, 
in  Word  and  Sacrament,  in  the  communion 
which  faith  brings  ? "  If  so,  then  He  never 
leaves  you  and  you  never  leave  Him.  Sleeping 
or  waking,  thinking  of  Him,  or  working  for 
Him,  or  occupied  with  the  duties  of  the  daily 
life.  He  is  abiding  in  you  and  you  in  Him. 
The   answer  to  this  question,  if  you  recog- 


66  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

nize  and  claim  all  that  is  involved  in  it,  gives 
the  answer  to  the  next  question. 

2.  Are  you  hearing  fruit?  Read  what  these 
verses  say  about  bearing  fruit.  A  branch  that 
beareth  not  fruit  He  taketh  away.  It  is  cut 
off.  A  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  He  does  not 
hesitate  to  prune  it  with  the  knife  of  trial,  that 
it  may  bear  more  fruit.  Bearing  much  fruit  is 
the  necessary  result  of  a  true  abiding  in  Christ. 
Bearing  much  fruit  glorifies  the  Father.  It  is 
all  so  clear  and  simple.  That  is  what  we  are 
here  for,  to  bear  fruit.  That  is  why  He  has 
redeemed  and  chosen  and  regenerated  us,  why 
He  has  engrafted  us  upon  Himself,  that  we 
should  bear  fruit,  much  fruit,  more  fruit.  What 
use  is  there  for  a  branch  of  a  vine,  that  does 
not  bear?  It  is  an  essential  failure.  And 
what  am  I,  or  what  are  you,  if  we  bear  not  the 
fruits  of  the  Spirit  (Gal.  6:  22)  in  our  own 
lives,  and  if  we  bear  not  fruit  in  bringing  other 
lives  to  Christ  ?  So  let  us  claim  and  show  this 
proof  of  abiding.  The  Master,  from  the  upper 
chamber,  <at  the  threshold  of  His  agony,  gives 
us  this  lesson. 

3.  Do  lue  a2'>2^reciate  Ilis  love?  So  as  to 
abide  in  it ;  so  as  to  love  one  another  by  the 
measure  of  His  love  for  us ;  so  as  to  feel  the 
wonderful  honor  that  is  ours  when  He  says,  "  I 
have  called  you  friends."  Of  all  the  heroes  of 
the  Old  Testament,  Abraham    alone  has  that 


Tuesday  after  Reminiscere  67 

proud  title  given  him,  "  Friend  of  God." 
(James  2:  23.)  But  each  child  of  the  New 
Covenant  has  a  right  to  it.  "  Ye  are  my  friends 
if  ye  do  the  things  which  I  have  commanded 
you."  How  proud  we  would  be  to  have  an 
earthly  monarch  call  us  friends ;  how  much 
better,  to  be  called  a  friend  of  Jesus. 

Prayer.  Lord  Jesus,  Heavenly  Vine,  let  me 
not  be  separated  from  Thee,  for  apart  from 
Thee  I  can  do  nothing,  and  I  desire,  abiding  in 
Thee,  dwelling  in  Thy  great  love,  to  bring 
forth  fruit  for  the  glory  of  the  Father.  I  have 
not  chosen  Thee,  but  Thou  hast  chosen  me, 
and  so  I  claim  Thy  promised  gift  of  fruitful- 
ness,  of  fruit  that  shall  abide.  Hear  me  and 
answer,  O  Thou  Friend  of  friends.     Amen. 


Wednesday  after  Reminiscere 

If  the  world  hateth  you,  ye  know  that  it  hath  hated  me 
before  it  hated  you.  If  ye  were  of  the  world,  the  world 
would  love  its  own :  but  because  ye  are  not  of  the  world, 
but  I  chose  you  out  of  the  world,  therefore  the  world  hateth 
you.  Remember  the  word  that  I  said  unto  you,  A  servant 
is  not  greater  than  his  lord.  If  they  persecuted  me,  they 
will  also  persecute  you ;  if  they  kept  my  word,  they  will 
keep  yours  also.  But  all  these  things  will  they  do  unto 
you  for  my  name's  sake,  because  they  know  not  him  that 
sent  me.  If  I  had  not  come  and  spoken  unto  them,  they 
had  not  had  sin  :  but  now  they  have  no  excuse  for  their 
sin.  He  that  hateth  me  hateth  my  Father  also.  If  I  had 
not  done  among  them  the  works  which  none  other  did,  they 
had  not  had  sin :  but  now  have  they  both  seen  and  hated 
both  me  and  my  Father.  But  this  cometh  to  j^ass,  that  the 
word  may  be  fulfilled  that  is  written  in  their  law,  They 
hated  me  without  a  cause.  But  when  the  Comforter  is  come, 
whom  I  will  send  unto  you  from  the  Father,  even  the  Spirit 
of  truth,  which  proceedeth  from  the  Father,  he  shall  bear 
witness  of  me  :  and  ye  also  bear  witness,  because  ye  have 
been  with  me  from  the  beginning. 

Lovers  Recompense.  There  is  no  parallel  in 
history,  to  the  fact  that  the  King  of  Love,  in 
the  supreme  manifestation  of  love,  was  de- 
spised, rejected,  crucified  by  the  people  He 
came  to  save  in  the  self-renunciation  of  im- 
measurable love.  Pathetic  beyond  expression 
is  that  word  of  St.  John  in  the  first  chapter  of 
his  Gospel,  "  He  came  unto  His  own,  and  His 
own  received  Him  not."     It  goes  much  further 


Wednesday  after  Reminiscere        69 

than  this  in  the  lesson  before  us.  *'  They  hated 
Him  without  a  cause."  Bitterest  hatred, 
love's  recompense  !  It  is  true  that  "  love  be- 
gets love."  '*  We  love  because  He  first  loved 
us."  But  love  also  meets  invincible  hatred, 
for  "they  hated  Him,"  who  is  Love.  The  mis- 
sionaries of  Christ  in  foreign  lands,  coming  in 
all  loving  sincerity  to  those  whom  they  desire 
to  save,  have  often  met  suspicion,  misjudgment, 
hatred,  and  even  persecution  unto  death.  That 
is  a  distressing  experience.  Multiply  their  love 
and  their  sorrows  by  the  measure  of  the  differ- 
ence between  them  and  their  Master,  and  you 
will  gain  some  conception  of  the  bitter  pain  of 
Him  who  was  *'  the  man  of  sorrows  and  ac- 
quainted with  grief." 

He  saw  clearly  that  the  mad,  unreasoning 
hate  with  which  Satan  had  inspired  the  world 
against  Him  would  extend  also  to  all  whom  He 
chose  and  who  acknowledged  Him.  All  of 
these  disciples,  if  we  may  believe  tradition,  died 
the  death  of  martyrs.  The  persecutions  that 
followed  the  Church  for  more  than  two  cen- 
turies were  the  overflowing  of  this  unutterable 
wrath  against  His  people.  What  a  wonder  it 
is,  that  more,  far  more,  than  any  tyrant  or 
criminal  or  reprobate  was  ever  hated,  Jesus,  the 
Meek  and  Merciful  One  was  hated.  This  is 
the  perverseness  of  sin  !  Look  at  Him  !  Is  He, 
beyond  all  others,  the  Loving  One,  and  the  Be- 


yo  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

loved  ?  Yes,  and  He  is  also,  beyond  all  others, 
the  Hated  One ! 

Christ  and  tlie  Father.  Fail  not  to  notice 
here,  also,  how  he  claims  oneness  with  the 
Father.  "  He  that  hateth  me,  hateth  my  Father 
also."  They  do  it  *'  because  they  know  not  Him 
that  sent  Me."  He  is  no  mere  ideal  of  human- 
ity, man  and  nothing  more  !  As  He  is  true, 
He  is  the  Son  of  God. 

This  Son  of  God,  although  hated  and  re- 
jected, has  witness  to  Himself.  The  Paraclete 
who  proceedeth  from  the  Father  shall  bear  wit- 
ness. With  wonderful  grace  and  condescen- 
sion. He  will  accept  also  the  witness  of  the  dis- 
ciples and  not  theirs  only,  but  that  of  all  His 
children,  to  this  day.  And  they  testify  that,  of 
all  the  sons  of  men,  He  only  deserved  no  wrath! 
for  He  was  sinless  and  full  of  grace  and  truth. 

1.  Hoio  do  you  feel  toioard  Christ  ?  What 
is  He  to  you  ?  That  question  is  the  touchstone 
of  human  character.  Whoso  hates  Christ 
hates  God  the  Father,  hates  his  fellow-men, 
hates  purity  and  the  highest  good.  To  hate, 
nay,  merely  not  to  love  with  supreme  devotion, 
the  pure  and  perfect  Christ,  argues  a  depraved 
spiritual  condition.  For  a  man  to  realize  that 
his  soul  does  not  lovingly  and  loyally  respond 
to  the  beauty  and  moral  power  of  the  character 
of  Jesus,  ought  to  be  enough  to  reveal  to  him, 


Wednesday  after  Reminlscere        71 

like  a  flash  of  lightning,  unsuspected  depths  of 
corruption.  Do  you  love  Him,  or  are  you  on 
the  side  of  His  enemies? 

2.  What  is  your  relation  to  the  world?  and 
how  does  the  world  stand  toward  you  ?  It  is 
greatly  to  be  feared  that  very  many  of  those 
who  are  called  by  the  name  of  Christ  to-day, 
are  not  distinguished  by  this  mark  of  disciple- 
ship,  that  the  world  hates  them^  because  they  are 
not  of  the  world,  but  He  has  chosen  them  out 
of  the  world.  If  we  are  brave  and  strong 
enough  to  show  the  spirit  of  Jesus,  to  speak  as 
He  spoke,  and  to  live  as  He  lived,  the  world 
will  hate  us,  in  the  measure  in  which  our  sphere 
of  opportunity  enables  us  to  bear  testimony 
against  its  spirit.  But  the  line  of  demarcation 
between  Christ's  children  and  those  of  the 
world  is  often  strangely  hard  to  find !  The 
world  would  often  claim  as  its  own,  of  its 
spirit,  akin  to  it  in  life  and  aim,  in  word 
and  deed,  those  whom  the  Church  claims,  but 
whom  Christ  would  not  claim !  "  Lord,  is  it 
I  "  of  whom  such  things  can  be  said  ?  Shall  it 
be  only  in  this  Lenten  season  that  I  stand 
firmly  and  clearly  on  Thy  side  ? 

3.  Wliat  ivitness  are  you  hearing?  Every 
one  of  us  is  a  witness.  Willing  or  unwilling, 
we  are  testifying.  The  only  question  is,  are  we 
witnessing  for  or  against  Jesus?  Our  lives  are 
intended,  by  His  grace,  to  show  to  men  who 


72  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

read  no  other  Bible,  what  the  Christ-life  is. 
Our  mission  is  to  reproduce,  in  all  its  imitable 
traits,  the  life  of  Jesus  among  the  men  of  to- 
day. Such  a  life  is  the  strongest  testimony,  far 
more  effective  than  any  other  sermon,  to  what 
He  is, — how  pure  and  tender  and  undeserving 
of  the  enmity  of  the  wicked  world.  Such  will 
be  the  witness  of  every  life  in  which  the 
Paraclete, — the  Strength-giver  and  Guide  and 
Illuminer  and  Witness  of  Jesus, — is  permitted 
to  enter  full}^  and  to  work  freely.  It  is  well  for 
each  of  us  to  ask,  Is  my  witness,  the  testimony 
of  my  life,  for  the  honor  of  my  Lord,  or  does 
it  slander  Him  ? 

Prayer.  O  Christ  of  God,  Thou  Who  art 
One  with  the  Father,  we  look  upon  Thee  as 
Altogether  Lovely.  Thou  hast  our  love,  oh, 
teach  us  to  love  Thee  more ;  and  though  the 
world  hate  Thee  and  us,  let  our  increasing  love 
be  steadfast!  Help  us  with  lips  and  lives  to 
bear  blessed  witness  to  Thy  power  to  save  and 
keep  all  tjiose  who  put  their  trust  in  Thee. 
Grant  that  we  may  rightly  estimate  Thy  loving 
self-abnegation  for  our  sakes ;  and  be  to  us  to- 
day and  all  the  days,  the  King  of  Love  !     Amen, 


Thursday  after  Reminiscere 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  yon,  that  ye  should  not 
he  made  to  stumble.  They  shall  put  you  out  of  the  syna- 
gogues :  yea,  the  hour  cometh,  that  whosoever  killeth  you 
shall  think  that  he  oflfereth  service  unto  God.  And  these 
things  will  they  do,  because  they  have  not  known  the 
Father,  nor  me.  Bat  these  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you, 
that  when  their  hour  is  come,  ye  may  remember  them,  how 
that  I  told  you.  And  these  things  I  said  not  unto  you 
from  the  beginning,  because  I  was  with  you.  But  now  I 
go  unto  him  that  sent  me  ;  and  none  of  you  asketh  me, 
Whither  goest  thou?  But  because  I  have  spoken  these 
things  unto  you,  sorrow  hath  filled  your  heart.  Neverthe- 
less I  tell  you  the  truth  ;  It  is  expedient  for  you  that  I  go 
away :  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not  come 
unto  you ;  but  if  I  go,  I  will  send  him  unto  you.  And  he, 
when  he  is  come,  will  convict  the  world  in  respect  of  sin, 
and  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment:  of  sin,  because 
they  believe  not  on  me ;  of  righteousness,  because  I  go  to 
the  Father,  and  ye  behold  me  no  more ;  of  judgment,  be- 
cause the  prince  of  this  world  hath  been  judged.  I  have 
yet  many  things  to  say  unto  you,  but  ye  cannot  bear  them 
now.  Howbeit  when  he,  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is  come,  he 
shall  guide  you  into  all  the  truth  ;  for  he  shall  not  speak 
from  himself ;  but  what  things  soever  he  shall  hear,  iJiese 
shall  he  speak  :  and  he  shall  declare  unto  you  the  things 
that  are  to  come.  He  shall  glorify  me :  for  he  shall  take  of 
mine,  and  shall  declare  it  unto  you.  All  things  whatso- 
ever the  Father  hath  are  mine :  therefore  said  I,  that  he 
taketh  of  mine,  and  shall  declare  it  unto  you. 

Forgetful  of  Self     Love  is  another  word  for 
unselfishness !     The    small,   unloving  soul,   in 
73 


74  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

trouble,  or  in  view  of  death,  forgets  all  about 
the  others  who  may  be  affected  with  him,  and 
remembers  only  himself,  his  suffering,  his  loss, 
and  pities  himself  so  deeply  that  lie  has  no  pity 
to  spare  for  others.  How  splendidly  heroic, 
how  nobly  brave, — above  all,  how  marvelously 
loving  is  the  meek  yet  majestic  figure  of  the 
Master,  forgetful  of  self  in  His  care  for  these 
poor  disciples  who  must  be  tried  by  His  trials ! 
He  has  spoken  these  things  that  they  may  not 
be  made  to  stumble.  He  is  filled  with  thought 
of  the  persecution,  excommunication,  even  mar- 
tyrdom which  they  must  after  a  while  undergo ; 
and  against  the  hour  that  is  hastening,  He  has 
sought  to  prepare  them.  You  would  think  He 
was  to  be  free  from  any  trials  and  persecution 
of  His  own.  Yet  He  is  about  to  drink  from 
the  bitterest  cup  that  was  ever  put  to  lips. 

Going  Home.  For  the  few  moments  in  which 
He  spoke  the  words  we  are  studying  to-day.  He 
seemed  to  be  willing  to  forget  the  agony  and 
look  beyond.  He  does  not  speak  of  scourge 
and  nails,  •but  He  says,  "  I  go  unto  Him  that 
sent  Me."  No  matter  by  how  strange  and  fear- 
ful a  road,  He  is  going  liome,  to  His  Father, 
and  He  strengthens  His  spirit  just  now  by  look- 
ing over  the  gulf  of  grief  and  gloom,  to  the 
land  on  the  other  side.  How  homesick  He 
must  have  been  after  thirty-three  years  of  exile 
in  a  world  of  sin  and  wretchedness  and  enmity. 


Thursday  after  Reminiscere  73* 

In  view  of  the  blessed  return  that  was  so  near 
Him,  it  even  seemed  strange  that  sorrow  should 
fill  their  hearts,  if  they  loved  Him.  Oh,  linger, 
Lord,  upon  the  blessed  hope,  let  it  give  Thee 
all  the  strength  it  may  for  the  heavy  trials  that 
are  before  Thee ! 

He  is  True  God.  Here  also  is  another  lesson 
of  His  divinity.  He  who  can  send  the  Para- 
clete, Himself  divine,  is  God  aloiie.  He,  of 
whom  the  Paraclete  testifies,  whom  to  glorify 
is  His  all-comprehensive  mission,  can  be  no  less 
than  God.  He  who  hath  all  things  that  the 
Father  hath,  is  co-equal  with  the  Father,  God 
Himself.  The  One  who  spoke  these  words  is 
true  essential  God,  of  the  same  substance  with 
the  Father,  or  else  He  is  an  impostor  and 
blasphemer.  We  cannot  deny  His  Godhead 
and  yet  reverence  Him  as  the  best  of  men. 
Either  He  is  God,  or  He  is  the  worst  of  men. 
But  His  whole  life  proved  Him  true  and  good, 
so  we  believe  Him  for  what  He  claimed  to  be. 

1.  A  lesson  coyicerning  the  Paraclete.  From 
these  passion  teachings,  hallowed  by  the  sacred 
influences  of  our  Lord's  last  days,  we  receive 
our  fullest  message  concerning  the  Holy  Ghost. 
The  Lord  chose  this  season  when  the  heavy 
clouds  were  closing  over  Him,  to  bring  into 
clearer  brightness  the  conception  of  the  Spirit, 
of  whom  men  had  known  so  little.     Have  you 


76  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

studied  and  appreciated  this  teaching  of  the 
Master  ?  Is  the  Paraclete  to  you,  and  in  your 
life,  what  the  words  of  Jesus  teach  that  He 
should  be  ?  Have  you  appreciated  His  inesti- 
mable helpfulness  at  the  value  indicated  by  this 
amazing  declaration  of  our  Lord,  "It  is  expe- 
dient for  you  that  I  go  away,  for  if  I  go  not 
away  the  Comforter  will  not  come  unto  you?" 
Better  than  the  visible  presence  of  Jesus,  under 
our  circumstances  of  life,  is  the  presence  and 
indwelling  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  is  a  truth 
worth  much  pondering.  Have  you  practically 
honored  the  Holy  Ghost  as  Christ  shows  that 
He  deserves  to  be  honored?  Have  you  not, 
possibly,  even  failed  to  think  of  Him  as  a  Per- 
son, truly  God,  as  much  to  be  loved  and  adored 
as  the  Father  and  the  Son?  Perhaps  you  have 
been  used  to  refer  to  the  Holy  Spirit  as  "  it " 
instead  of  using  the  pronoun  which  Jesus  uses 
in  speaking  of  Him  in  this  passage.  Honor 
and  acknowledge  the  Holy  Ghost !  It  makes  a 
difference  in  the  power  and  blessedness  of  your 
Christian  life. 

2.  It  is  well  to  meditate  a  little  while  upon 
the  2^'>^omise.d  ivorh  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Has  he 
done  this  work  for  you?  Have  you  come  to 
God's  way  of  thinking,  instead  of  the  world's  ? 
The  world  counts  murder  and  theft  and  adul- 
tery as  the  great  sins.  It  counts  one's  faith  or 
unbelief  as  a  very  liltle  tiling,  a  trifle.     But 


Thursday  after  Reminisce're  77 

the  Holy  Ghost  convicts  men  of  sin  because 
they  have  not  believed  in  the  Son  of  God.  God 
counts  as  the  greatest  sin,  unbelief,  or  the  re- 
fusal of  trust,  because  it  is  the  root  sin.  What 
do  you  think  about  righteousness?  The  world 
reckons  its  own  righteousness,  like  civil  integ- 
rity, or  good  works  of  benevolence,  the  right- 
eousness that  saves.  It  rests  upon  itself  fur 
justification,  and  counts  not  at  all  upon  Ch»ist/ 
But  God's  thought  is  that  the  only  hope  of 
righteousness  is  connected  with  Christ,  and  with 
His  presence  at  the  Father's  throne  to  plead  the 
merits  of  His  finished  work  for  sinners.  Not 
one  word  of  our  good  deeds,  but  only  of  His 
righteousness,  is  found  in  God's  plan  to  save 
us.  Again,  the  world  thinks  little  or  nothing 
of  judgment.  If  it  believes  in  judgment  at  all, 
it  is  of  a  judgment  far  away  in  the  future,  which 
it  little  fears.  God  tells  of  a  judgment  already 
pronounced !  The  prince  of  this  world  is 
judged.  Sin  brings  present  condemnation,  and 
a  sinner  has  no  escape  from  judgment  while  he 
lives  in  sin.  What  do  you  think  ?  Have  you 
been  taught  and  convinced  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
as  to  these  things?  Do  you  believe  in  Jesus 
Christ,  trusting  Him  for  righteousness,  and  thus 
escape  the  judgment  which  rests  upon  the  devil 
and  his  children  ?  *'  God's  thoughts  are  not  our 
thoughts  ;  "  but  His  thoughts  are  the  true  ones. 
Think  His  thoughts  after  Him. 


^ 


78  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Prayer.  Lord,  I  worship  Thee  in  Thy  glo- 
rious divinity.  I  acknowledge  Thee  with  the 
Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  one  God.  I 
thank  Thee  for  Thine  unselfish  love,  for  the  re- 
demption Thou  hast  purchased  with  Thy  blood, 
for  the  righteousness  Thou  hast  obtained  for 
me,  and  for  the  precious  gift  of  the  Spirit  of 
Truth  to  take  these  things  of  Thine  and  de- 
clare them  unto  me.  In  my  gratitude  I  offer 
myself  unto  that  gracious  Holy  Spirit,  for  Him 
to  lead  and  teach  me  ever  to  glorify  Thee,  O 
Christ  my  All-in- All !     Amen, 


Friday  after  Reminiscere 

A  little  -wbile,  aud  ye  behold  me  no  more  ;  and  again  a 
little  while,  aud  ye  shall  see  me.  Some  of  his  disciples 
therefore  said  one  to  another,  What  is  this  that  he  saith 
unto  us,  A  little  while,  aud  ye  behold  me  not ;  and  again  a 
little  while  and  ye  shall  see  me  :  aud,  Because  I  go  to  the 
Father?  They  said  therefore,  What  is  this  that  he  saith, 
A  little  while?  We  know  not  what  he  saith.  Jesus  per- 
ceived that  they  were  desirous  to  ask  him,  aud  he  said  unto 
them,  Do  ye  inquire  among  yourselves  concerning  this,  that 
I  said,  A  little  while,  aud  ye  behold  me  not,  and  again  a 
little  while,  and  ye  shall  see  me  ?  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  you,  that  ye  shall  weep  and  lament,  but  the  world 
shall  rejoice :  ye  shall  be  sorrowful,  but  your  sorrow  shall 
be  turued  into  joy.  A  woman  when  she  is  in  travail  hath 
sorrow,  because  her  hour  is  come  :  but  when  she  is  deliv- 
ered of  the  child,  she  remembereth  no  more  the  anguish, 
for  the  joy  that  a  man  is  born  into  the  world.  And  ye 
therefore  now  have  sorrow  :  but  I  will  see  you  again,  and 
your  heart  shall  rejoice,  and  your  joy  no  one  taketh  away 
from  you.  And  in  that  day  ye  shall  ask  me  nothing. 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  If  ye  shall  ask  anything  of 
the  Father,  he  will  give  it  you  in  my  name.  Hitherto 
have  ye  asked  nothing  in  my  name :  ask,  and  ye  shall  re- 
ceive, that  your  joy  may  be  made  full. 

These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you  in  dark  sayings: 
the  hour  cometh,  when  I  shall  no  more  speak  unto  you  in 
dark  sayings,  but  shall  tell  you  plainly  of  the  Father.  In 
that  day  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name :  and  I  say  not  unto  you, 
that  I  will  pray  the  Father  for  you ;  for  the  Father  himself 
loveth  you,  because  ye  have  loved  me,  and  have  believed 
that  I  came  forth  from  the  Father.  I  came  out  from  the 
Father,  and  am  come  into  the  world :  again,  I  leave  the 
world,  and  go  unto  the  Father.  His  disciples  say,  Lo,  now 
79 


8o  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

speakest  thou  plainly,  and  speakest  no  dark  saying.  Now 
know  we  that  thou  knowest  all  things,  and  needest  not 
that  any  man  should  ask  thee :  by  this  we  believe  that 
thou  earnest  forth  from  God.  Jesus  answered  them,  Do  ye 
now  believe  ?  Behold,  the  hour  cometh,  yea,  is  come,  that 
ye  shall  be  scattered,  every  man  to  his  own,  and  shall  leave 
me  alone:  and  yet  I  am  not  alone,  because  the  Father  is 
•with  me.  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  in 
me  ye  may  have  peace.  In  the  world  ye  have  tribulation  : 
but  be  of  good  cheer ;  I  have  overcome  the  world. 

A  Patient  Teacher.  Christ  was  a  patient 
teacher.  Most  of  us  are  vexed  with  the  dull- 
ness of  our  pupils.  But  their  *' What  is  this 
that  he  saith,  we  know  not  what  he  saith," 
never  made  Him  impatient,  even  though  it 
grieved  Him.  One  of  the  sorrows  He  bore  was 
the  spiritual  stupidity  of  His  disciples.  Yet  He 
saw  that  they  were  meditating,  that  they  were 
inquiring  into  this  question,  and  that  was  what 
He  wanted  them  to  do,  so  He  set  to  work  again 
and  goes  on  to  teach  them  further.  A  proof  of 
His  divinity  is  here.  He  foreknew  that  "  little 
while  "  so  full  of  grief  and  agony,  and  then  of 
resurrection  joy,  when  they  should  see  Him 
again.  How  masterfully,  like  no  human  teacher. 
He  goes  on  to  explain  wliat  all  this  shall  mean, 
and  seeks  to  instill  into  their  hearts  some  of  the 
spirit  that  was  filling  and  thrilling  His,  that  of 
looking  forward  to  the  coming  day  when  the 
travail  should  be  passed,  and  be  no  more  re- 
membered for  the  joy  I 


Friday  after  Reminiscere  81 

He  SiKaks  Plainly.  Now,  at  their  need,  He 
speaks  plainly  and  the  deep  under- surge  of  sor- 
row that  we  may  detect  through  all  these  won- 
derful words  comes  to  the  surface  again.  He 
tells  them  of  the  hour  when  they  shall  be  scat- 
tered and  shall  leave  Him  alone  !  He  says  that 
hour  is  come. 

Not  Alone.  He  says  He  is  not  alone  ;  for  so 
long  as  His  Father  was  with  Him  He  could  not 
be  alone  !  So  it  was,  that  through  all  that 
travesty  of  the  legal  trials,  and  the  beating,  and 
the  nailing  to  the  Cross,  and  the  hot  pulsing  of 
the  fevered  blood  as  He  hung  beneath  the 
fierce  sun  of  the  Syrian  sky.  He  yet  never 
felt  the  bitterest  pain,  never  the  uttermost 
anguish,  until  His  Father's  face  was  turned 
away  from  the  Son  who  bore  the  sins  on  which 
God  cannot  look  (Hab.  1).  Then  at  last  the 
awful  cry  rang  out,  so  full  of  pathos,  "  My 
God,  my  God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me ! " 
In  that  supreme  moment  when  the  full  weight 
of  our  penalty  was  on  Him,  He  was  alone  ! 
alone  ! 

1.  More  fully  than  before  our  gracious 
Master  reiterates  for  us  His  promise  of  the 
2')ower  of  prayer  in  His  Name.  By  "  that 
day,"  when  they  shall  see  Him  again.  He 
means  not  so  much  the  day  of  His  resurrection, 
as  the  day  of  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 


82  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

His  Revealer;  in  whom  and  by  whose  hght, 
they  should  see  Jesus  and  His  work,  under- 
standing His  Name  as  never  before.  In  order 
to  pray  in  His  Name,  more  than  all  else  do  we 
need  to  live  in  His  Name  and  love  in  His 
Name ; — striving  and  hoping  and  having  all 
our  ambitions  in  His  Name.  The  clerk,  author- 
ized to  use  his  employer's  name,  is  a  feeble 
illustration  ;  the  wife  who  takes  and  uses  her 
husband's  name  is  better ;  but  the  son  who  re- 
ceives help  and  encouragement  and  wins  suc- 
cess in  the  name  of  his  honored  father,  because 
he  bears  his  name,  is  of  his  blood,  and  is  one 
with  him  in  character  and  aim, — this  comes 
nearest  to  explaining  how  praying  in  the  Name 
of  Jesus  means  an  identifying  of  ourselves, 
through  His  Spirit,  with  Himself,  so  that  the 
Father,  in  hearing  us,  is  hearing  Him.  Let  us 
beware  of  emptying  this  word  of  its  meaning, 
as  though  a  mere  saying :  *'  In  Jesus'  name,"  at 
the  end  of  our  prayers  should  secure  the  prom- 
ises ;  and  let  us  question  :  ''  Do  I  truly  ask  in 
His  Name?  " 

2.  He  bids  us  he  joyful.  He  wants  our  joy  to 
be  made  full.  This  is  no  gloomy  life  He  calls 
us  to  lead.  He  passed  through  the  gloom  and 
bore  the  sorrows  that  our  portion  miglit  be  joy 
in  its  fullness.  Are  you  joyful  ?  Does  your 
life  in  Christ  beam  in  smiles,  showing  to  every 
one  who  sees  you  that  your  Christ  is  a  Joy- 


Friday  after  Reminiscere  83 

giver  ?  God  forbid  that  we  should,  with  gloomy 
aspect  and  sad  demeanor,  so  misrepresent  Him, 
that  others,  misled,  will  seek  joys  elsewhere ! 
In  Him  is  fullness  of  joy. 

3.  What  a  word  is  this  of  the  Father  s 
love  I  We  do  not  need  a  Mediator  as  if  our 
Father  loved  us  not,  but  only  because  we  are 
beloved  in  Him.  He  does  not  say  that  He  will 
ask  for  us  of  the  Father ;  He  assures  us  that 
the  Father  loves  us.  Here  is  comfort.  Think 
upon  this  :  God  loves  you.  Do  not  waste  time 
in  meditation  on  your  love  to  Him,  but  ponder 
the  thought  of  His  love  for  you.  All  lies  in 
that.  If  that  be  true  there  are  no  hard  places 
in  the  Evangel,  no  mysteries  that  need  cause 
stumbling.  The  problems  of  our  sin  and  ill- 
deserving  all  vanish  before  this  solvent.  God 
loves  me.  *'  The  Father  Himself  loveth  you." 
He  cannot  help  it,  since  we  love  His  Son.  You 
love  those  who  love  your  dearest  ones.  So 
does  the  Father.  Have  you  caught  the  pre- 
ciousness  of  this  truth  ? 

4.  Did  He  speak  these  words  in  vain,  as  to 
you?  He  spoke  them  that  ice  miyht  have 
peace.  Have  you  peace  ?  "  Peace  is  joy  made 
constant."  Rest,  quiet,  gladness,  unfailing 
sweetness  in  the  love  of  God  through  Jesus 
Christ.  It  comes  through  Him,  through  His 
ransom,  through  His  words.  He  desires  so 
earnestly  for  you  to  have  it.     Let  Him  give  it 


84  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

to  you.  Let  Him  simply  be  all-in  all  to  you  ; 
live  in  Him,  rest  in  Him,  dwell  in  His  love,  and 
in  the  Father's  love,  abide  in  Him,  He  in  you. 
It  is  not  an  acquirement,  it  is  a  gift.  Being 
justified  by  faith  we  have  peace.  You  have 
nothing  of  power  or  goodness,  but  you  are  able 
to  take  a  gift.  Even  in  the  midst  of  the  world 
we  may  have  peace.     Claim  it. 

Prayer,  O  Christ  of  God,  so  full  of  comfort- 
ing and  patient  love,  so  self-forgetful,  give  us 
in  Thee  the  Father's  love  and  joy  and  peace, 
that  all  Thy  blessed  work  and  sacrifice  for  us 
may  not  be  unavailing,  but  bring  what  Thou 
hast  purchased  for  us,  Lord,  our  Saviour.   Amen, 


Saturday  after  Reminiscere 

These  things  spake  Jesus  ;  and  lifting  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  he  said,  Father,  the  hour  is  come  ;  glorify  thy  Son, 
that  the  Son  may  glorify  thee :  even  as  thou  gavest  him 
authority  over  all  flesh,  that  whatsoever  thou  hast  given 
him,  to  them  he  should  give  eternal  life.  And  this  is  life 
eternal,  that  they  should  know  thee  the  only  true  God, 
and  him  whom  thou  didst  send,  even  Jesus  Christ.  I  glo- 
rified thee  on  the  earth,  having  accomplished  the  work 
which  thou  hast  given  me  to  do.  And  now,  O  Father, 
glorify  thou  me  with  thine  own  self  with  the  glory  which 
I  had  with  thee  before  the  world  was.  I  manifested  thy 
name  unto  the  men  whom  thou  gavest  me  out  of  the  world  ; 
thine  they  were,  and  thou  gavest  them  to  me ;  and  they 
have  kept  thy  word.  Now  they  know  that  all  things 
whatsoever  thou  hast  given  me  are  from  thee:  for  the 
words  which  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  unto  them ;  and 
they  received  them,  and  knew  of  a  truth  that  I  came  forth 
from  thee,  and  they  believed  that  thou  didst  send  me.  I 
pray  for  them :  I  pray  not  for  the  world,  but  for  those 
whom  thou  hast  given  me ;  for  they  are  thine :  and  all 
things  that  are  mine  are  thine,  and  thine  are  mine :  and  I 
am  glorified  in  them.  And  I  am  no  more  in  the  world, 
and  these  are  in  the  world,  and  I  come  to  thee.  Holy 
Father,  keep  them  in  thy  name  which  thou  hast  given  me, 
that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are.  While  I  was  with 
them,  I  kept  them  in  thy  name  which  thou  hast  given  me: 
and  I  guarded  them,  and  not  one  of  them  perished,  but 
the  son  of  perdition  ;  that  the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled. 
But  now  I  come  to  thee ;  and  these  things  I  speak  in  the 
world,  that  they  may  have  my  joy  made  full  in  themselves. 
I  have  given  them  thy  word  ;  and  the  world  hated  them, 
because  they  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the 
85 


86  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

world.  I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them  from  the 
world,  but  that  thou  shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil  one. 
They  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world. 
Sanctify  them  in  the  truth  :  thy  word  is  truth.  As  thou 
didst  send  me  into  the  world,  even  so  sent  I  them  into  the 
world.  And  for  their  sakes  I  sanctify  myself,  that  they 
themselves  also  may  be  sanctified  in  truth.  Neither  for  these 
only  do  I  pray,  but  for  them  also  that  believe  on  me  through 
their  word ;  that  they  may  all  be  one  ;  even  as  thou.  Father, 
art  in  me,  aud  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  in  us :  that 
the  world  may  believe  that  thou  didst  send  me.  And  the 
glory  which  thou  hast  given  me  I  have  given  unto  them  ; 
that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one ;  I  in  them  and 
thou  iu  me,  that  they  may  be  perfected  into  one ;  that 
the  world  may  know  that  thou  didst  send  me,  and  lovedst 
them,  even  as  thou  lovedst  me.  Father,  that  which  thou 
hast  given  me,  I  desire  that,  where  I  am,  they  also  may  be 
with  me ;  that  they  may  behold  my  glory,  which  thou 
hast  given  me :  for  thou  lovedst  me  before  the  foundation 
of  the  world.  O  righteous  Father,  the  world  knew  thee 
not,  but  I  knew  thee ;  and  these  knew  that  thou  didst  send 
me;  and  I  made  known  unto  them  thy  name,  and  will 
make  it  known  ;  that  the  love  wherewith  thou  lovedst  me 
may  be  in  them,  and  I  in  them. 

The  Lord's  Prayer.  This  seventeenth  chap- 
ter of  St.  John  is  the  true  Lord's  prayer.  What 
we  call  by 'that  name  is  07/r  prayer  which  He 
taught  us,  but  this  is  His  own  prayer.  It  is  a 
wonderful  prayer.  He  asks  first  for  Himself ; 
then  He  pleads  for  His  disciples  who  were 
there  with  Him ;  then  for  all  those  who  should 
afterward  believe  on  Wm\^—for  vs.  He  asks 
for  Himself,  that  tlie  Father  should  glorify 
Him.     He  looks  forward  to  the  agon^^  on  which 


Saturday  after  Reminiscere  87 

He  is  entering  as  the  sphere  and  field  in  which 
He  is  to  be  glorified !  So  different  are  His 
thoughts  from  ours.  We  could  have  seen  in  it 
only  shame  and  misery;  He  saw  in  it  the  glory 
of  the  Father,  and  His  own.  And  He  saw 
aright. 

He  claims  luonderfid  things  for  Himself  in 
this  chapter — so  simply,  so  naturally,  not  as- 
sertively, nor  as  if  there  were  needed  any  proof 
of  His  claims.  He  declares  that  authority  over 
all  flesh  is  His ;  that  He  has  accomplished,  has 
perfected,  the  work  committed  to  Him.  He 
asks  for  that  glory  to  be  given  Him  which  He 
had  with  the  Father  before  the  world  was.  He 
declares  that  He  came  forth  from  the  Father, 
the  literal  words  being  very  suggestive — "I 
came  out  from  beside  Thee.'*  In  the  most 
clear  and  forcible  way  He  asserts  equality  with 
the  Father  and  Oneness  with  Him,  when  He 
says :  "All  things  that  are  Mine  are  Thine,  and 
Thine  are  Mine,"  and  again, — "  That  they  may 
be  one  as  We  are  One  " ;  '*  Even  as  Thou,  Father, 
art  in  Me,  and  I  in  Thee."  Such  claims  as 
these  are  worthy  of  our  close  attention  and 
meditation.  In  these  days  of  rationalizing  con- 
ceptions, when  men  seem  to  honor  Christ  in  one 
word  and  with  another  deny  Him  ;  when  they 
offer  Him  the  empty  compliments  with  which 
they  seek  to  cover  the  insult  of  their  rejection 
of  His  true  and  essential  Deity,  it  becomes  us 


88  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

who  love  Him  and  who  are  jealous  of  His  glory, 
to  know  just  what  He  said  of  Himself,  with 
His  last  words,  in  the  full  knowledge  of  His 
approaching  end,  under  the  solemnities  of  prayer 
and  the  sanction  of  communion  with  His  Father. 
To  deny  that  He  asserted  His  own  true  God- 
head is  vain  in  the  face  of  these  and  many 
other  words.  Far  more  strange  than  the  great 
hidden  mystery  of  His  relation  to  the  Father, 
would  be  the  inconceivable  mystery,  that  such 
an  one  as  He  shows  Himself,  in  all  His  words 
and  deeds,  should  falsely  claim  what  He  knew 
to  be  untrue,  or  should  ignorantly  assert  what 
could  not  be.  It  is  no  avoidance  of  difficulty 
to  deny  the  divinity  of  Christ,  proclaimed  as 
one  of  the  chief  among  the  passion  teachings ; 
it  is  on  the  contrary  the  undertaking  of  a  far 
greater  difficulty. 

What  Our  Lord  asked  for  His  disciples  then 
present  He  also  sought  for  us  in  the  words, 
*'  Neither  for  these  only  do  I  pray,  but  for  them 
also  that  believe  on  Me  through  their  word." 

A  tender  thought  is  this  of  Jesus  praying  for 
us.  What  did  He  ask  for  his  beloved  children 
as  His  parting  prayer  ?  Let  us  see,  and  let  the 
knowledge  of  His  desires  in  our  behalf  move 
us  to  seek  to  realize  their  fulfillment. 

1.  He  longed  that  lue  should  he  one.  Yet 
it  was  not  for  a  oneness   of    organization,  as 


Saturday  after  Reminiscere  89- 

many  dream,  but  for  such  a  oneness,  in  so  far 
as  possible,  as  that  between  Him  and  His 
Father, — a  oneness  of  life,  the  one  eternal  life 
that  He  should  give,  a  oneness  of  spirit,  of 
love,  of  will.  This  must  be  fulfilled  wherever 
true  children  of  God  are.  It  behooves  us  not 
to  be  striving  after  the  union  of  church  organ- 
izations, so  much  as  after  the  oneness  of  the 
life  of  Christ.  If  we  are  one  with  Him,  in  His 
truth,  in  His  spirit,  in  His  purposes,  we  shall 
be,  of  necessity,  one  in  all  essential  things  with 
every  other  who  is  bound  up  with  Him  in  the 
same  unity.  This  is  the  best  solution  of  the 
problem  of  Christian  unity,  that  we  be  one 
with  Christ  and  the  Father. 

2.  He  prayed  that  we  might  be  kept  from 
the  worlcVs  evil  even  while  we  live  in  the 
world.  Asceticism  or  monasticism  was  not 
Christ's  thought  for  men.  He  wanted  the 
light  and  the  salt  not  to  be  separated  from 
what  they  were  to  illumine  and  save,  but  to  be 
in  contact  with  it ;  but  He  besought  the 
Father  to  protect  His  children  from  the  evil  in 
the  world.  Do  you  dread  evil  and  fear  evil  and 
shrink  from  evil  as  He  would  have  you  do  ?  Is 
this  prayer  of  His  being  answered,  so  far  as  you 
are  concerned  ?  How  is  it  in  your  business 
life,  in  your  social  life,  in  your  daily  contact, 
of  whatever  sort,  with  the  evil  of  the  world  ? 
Are  you  being  sullied?     And  are  you  perhaps 


go  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

careless,  indifferent, — even  lightly  laughing  at 
the  sin  that  touches  you  on  every  side  ?  Think 
of  this  prayer  of  Christ  for  you,  and  pray  it  for 
yourself. 

3.  He  prayed  that  we  might  he  holy^  and 
pointed  out  the  way  to  be  holy.  Do  you 
earnestly  seek  to  be  holy,  to  be  clean  and  pure, 
and  to  be  living  in  the  will  of  God?  Do  yon 
love  and  use  His  Word,  to  this  end  ?  Is  it  a 
regular  custom  of  your  daily  life  to  read  and 
study  the  Bible  for  devotional  profit?  Do  you 
delight  to  pause  and  think  of  the  meaning  of 
the  verse  you  have  read,  then  ask  how  it 
touches  your  life,  and  then  turn  it  into  praj^er? 
Not  only  during  the  days  of  Lent,  but  every 
day,  do  you  use  the  Word  for  cleansing  and 
for  growth?  If  not;  if  you  despise  and 
neglect  the  appointed  means ;  how  can  you  be 
holy  ?  And  if  you  are  not  seeking  to  be  holy, 
how  can  you  be  His  ?  Would  it  not  be  well  to 
pause  and  pray  for  pardon  just  here,  and  then 
to  promise  Him  with  true  repentance,  to  read 
the  Word  'and  to  seek  to  grow  in  holiness 
through  all  the  coming  days  ? 

4.  He  prays  that  at  last  we  may  be  luith 
Him  forever.  Here,  perhaps,  we  have  the  most 
touching  evidence  of  Jesus'  love  for  us.  He 
does  not  love  us  only  with  the  love  of  compas- 
sion, but  more,  far  more, — with  the  love  of 
friendship.     You  can  love,  with  the  love  that 


Saturday  after  Reminiscere  91 

sacrifices  self  to  help  and  relieve,  even  the  most 
hideous  and  wretclied  of  men,  yet  that  is  far 
from  meaning  that  you  wish  the  companionship 
of  that  ignorant,  degraded  being  in  your  home 
and  by  your  side  forever.  But  Jesus  longs  for 
us  to  be  with  Him,  He  wants  us  to  see  His 
glory,  just  as  we  like  for  our  friends  to  see  and 
share  our  happiness  and  the  honor  we  have 
won.  He  desires  us ;  He  is  not  satisfied  even  in 
Heaven  until  He  has  us  with  Him.  Oh,  that 
is  true  love  that  lifts  and  glorifies  its  objects. 
How  should  we  rejoice  in  it !  He  loves  us  with 
a  surpassing  love,  with  the  love  of  a  friend. 

Prayer.  O  Lord,  we  are  ashamed  and 
humbled  when  we  think  of  Thy  divine  con- 
descension, and  of  Thy  wondrous  love.  Fash- 
ion, shape  and  sanctify  us  until  we  shall  be 
worthy  of  Thy  heavenly  companionship ;  and 
since  Thou  hast  so  dignified  and  honored  us  in 
our  unworthiness,  help  us  to  be  shielded  and 
kept  in  all  things,  that  we  may  not  dishonor 
Thee, — until  that  glad  day  when  we  shall  see 
Thee  as  Thou  art,  and  shall  be  like  Thee. 
Amen. 


Monday  after  Oculi,  which  is  the  Third  Sun- 
day in  Lent 

When  Jesus  had  spoken  these  words,  he  went  forth  with 
his  disciples  over  the  brook  Kidron,  unto  the  mount  of 
Olives,  as  his  custom  was. 

Then  saith  Jesus  unto  them,  All  ye  shall  be  offended  in 
me  this  night:  for  it  is  written,  I  will  smite  the  shepherd, 
and  the  sheep  of  the  flock  shall  be  scattered  abroad.  But 
after  I  am  raised  up,  I  will  go  before  you  into  Galilee. 

But  Peter  said  unto  him.  Although  all  men  shall  be  of- 
fended, yet  will  not  I.  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Verily 
I  say  unto  thee,  that  thou  to-day,  even  this  night,  before 
the  cock  crow  twice,  shalt  deny  me  thrice.  But  he  spake 
exceeding  vehemently,  If  I  mast  die  with  thee,  I  will  not 
deny  thee.     And  in  like  manner  also  said  they  all. 

The  Hour  has  Struck.  Though  not  yet  de- 
livered into  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  the  Mas- 
ter has  left  the  house  of  His  friends,  has  spoken 
His  last  comforting  and  instructive  words,  and 
gone  to  the  garden  where  His  agon}^  must  be- 
gin. Past  for  Him  are  all  the  hours  of  peace, 
the  unhindered  communion  with  friends  and 
disciples,  the  time  of  anticipation  ;  come  is  the 
season  of  sorrow.  He  goes  to  meet  it,  not  un- 
conscious, but  ready. 

Very  suggestive  for  meditation  are  the  words, 
"  As  Ills  custom  was^  We  think  of  Him  here 
in  His  liumanity ;  like  one  of  us  having  His 
912 


Monday  after  Oculi  ^3 

favorite  retreat,  like  one  of  us  becomijig 
fonder  and  fonder,  by  use,  of  a  spot  at  first  at- 
tractive for  some  other  reason.  It  is  not  un- 
fitting that  along  with  the  reminders  of  His 
divine  nature  we  should  be  impressed  anew 
with  His  true  human  nature.  A  pleasant  habit 
this  is  of  seeking  His  chosen  retreat  to  be 
alone,  to  commune  with  His  Father.  We  can 
scarcely  doubt  that  His  custom  was  to  seek  it 
for  the  same  purpose  that  brings  Him  here  to- 
night :  to  pray.  If  He  who  was  God  so  needed 
and  so  loved  communion  with  His  Father,  how 
shall  we  live  without  it? 

Consider  the  pity  of  it,  as  we  enter  into 
sympathy  with  Him  in  the  garden,  that  His  cus- 
tom, so  well  known  to  the  Twelve,  made  the 
task  of  the  traitor  the  easier.  He  knew  where 
the  Lord  was  almost  certain  to  betake  him- 
self, and  he  traded,  in  his  treachery,  on  the 
knowledge  that  the  friendship  of  Jesus  had 
given  Him.     Baseness  unparalleled ! 

As  they  went  out,  the  Lord  still  had  a  mes- 
sage of  compassioii  and  forewarning.  It  is  their 
bewilderment  and  helplessness  in  the  face  of 
the  shock  (for  which  all  He  says  seems  power- 
less to  prepare  them),  that  appeals  to  His  pity. 
He  would  fain  have  them  expect  it,  and  be  not 
utterly  amazed  when  it  comes.  Though  He 
remembers  well  that  the  Shepherd  shall  be 
smitten,  it  is  the  sheep,  scattered  abroad,  of 


94  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

whom  He  is  thinking  and  for  whom  He  is 
caring.  So,  earnestly,  He  strives  again  to  con- 
vince them  of  their  weakness,  and  to  drive 
them  from  self-confidence,  that  they  may  seek 
refuge  in  a  higher  help.  But  it  is  in  vain ! 
And  the  time  of  trial  and  stress  is  at  hand. 

1.  There  is  a  lesson  for  us  in  this  repeated 
ivarning  and  preioaration.  Do  we  remember 
what  He  says  to  us?  He  had  spoken  often  of 
His  apprehension  and  death,  as  sure  to  come. 
This  very  evening  He  has  repeatedly  referred 
to  these  things  as  at  hand.  Now  He  says,  "  Ye 
all  shall  be  made  to  stumble  in  Me  this  night." 
*'The  Shepherd  shall  be  smitten."  Again  and 
again  He  had  foretold  the  resurrection  from 
the  dead  that  was  to  follow ;  here  also  He 
makes  explicit  mention  of  it,  saying  He  will 
meet  them,  after  He  shall  have  risen  again,  in 
Galilee.  But  they  seemed  not  to  hear,  not  to 
understand.  And  when  the  hour  came  for 
which  He  sought  so  earnestly  to  make  them 
ready,  they  were  as  horror-stricken  as  if  He 
had  never  foretold  a  syllable  of  what  had  so 
faithfully  come  to  pass  according  to  His  word 
— they  lost  faith  and  courage,  and  were  as 
thorouglily  astonished  at  His  resurrection  as 
they  had  been  cast  down  at  His  crucifixion. 
Do  we  understand  much  better  what  He  has 
told   us?     When  sorrow  comes,  many   are   as 


Monday  after  Oculi  95 

deeply  overwhelmed  as  if  He  had  never  said, 
"  111  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation." 
When  all  seems  to  go  wrong,  and  wickedness 
seems  to  thrive  and  fatten,  we  lose  heart  as 
readily  as  if  He  had  not  sent  us  the  message 
of  how  men  shall  "rail  at  dignities,"  and 
"mockers  come  with  mocking"  {Read  1  Peter^ 
chapters  2  and  3).  He  has  intended  that  we 
remember  and  expect  as  certainly  the  promises 
of  victory,  as  we  find  fulfilled  His  prophecies 
of  evil. 

2.  The  Flesh  and  the  Sjnrit.  How  are  we 
affected  by  these  strong  words  of  Peter  and 
the  rest,  "  Though  I  die  with  Thee,  yet  will  I 
never  deny  Thee  "  ?  Shall  we  admire  this  sin- 
cere love  and  loyalty  of  purpose,  or  shall  we 
wonder  at  the  strange,  unsuspected  weakness 
of  the  flesh?  A  poor  and  pitiful  thing  is 
human  nature,  to  vow  sacrifice  and  martyr- 
dom, when  on  the  very  verge  of  falling.  We 
are  of  this  same  clay,  honest  in  vowing  never 
to  deny  the  Master,  yet  with  the  willing  spirit, 
weak,  so  weak  of  flesh  !  But  even  if  men  have 
endured  trials  as  great  as  these,  and  even  if 
we  (which  may  God  grant !)  shall  endure  the 
temptations  to  denial  of  our  Lord,  it  is  by  the 
rich  grace  of  the  Spirit  whom  He  hath  sent  to 
dwell  in  and  strengthen  these  poor  powerless 
hearts.  Swear  allegiance  to  Him,  but  look  to 
Him  for  strength  to  keep  the  vow. 


96  The   Way  o\   tho   Ck^ss 

Prayer.  Poar  1-ord,  wo  lovo  Thoo  for  Thy 
human  likeness  to  ouvsolvos,  but  most  of  all 
that  Thou  hast  found  a  way,  through  bittor- 
ness  and  death,  to  make  us  like  io  Thoo.  We 
are  so  weak.  Have  pity  on  us  aud  give  us 
streugth.  We  would  not  deny  Thee,  but  Thou 
alone  eanst  keep  us  true  and  faithful.  Make 
us  to  hold  in  memory  Thy  precious  jn'omises, 
and  evermore  fully  to  entrust  ourselves  to 
Thee.  By  Thy  holy  passion,  hear  and  answer 
us  I     Anun. 


Tuesday  after  Oculi 

•Hjen  rxjr/jfelh  Jckhh  with  th<;m  unto  a  place  called  Getb- 
Bcriiarift,  and  ftaith  unto  hj«  dihciples,  Bit  ye  here,  while  I 
go  yond<;r  and  pray,  i'ray  that  ye  enter  not  into  U^wpia- 
tion.  And  he  took  with  him  PoAcr  and  the  two  sons  of 
Z*;b<;f]<;e,  and  I><rt4an  to  be  ft^irrow/ul,  %t<;iy\.\y  amazed,  and 
Bore  troubled.  Iben  Kailh  he  unto  them,  My  Boul  is  ex- 
creding  w^^rrow/ul,  everi  unto  death:  abide  ye  here,  and 
watch  with  me.  And  he  went  forward  a  little,  alxjut  a 
Btone'H  cast,  and  fell  on  the  ground  on  his  face,  and  prayed 
that,  if  it  were  i)o«8ible,  the  hour  Djight  paKS  away  from 
him,  Haying,  O  my  Father,  if  it  be  jjosnible,  let  thia  cup 
pa8H  away  from  me:  nevertbelcKH,  not  as  I  will,  but  aw  thou 
wilt.  And  be  cometh  unto  the  difecipleK,  and  findeth  them 
Hleeplng,  and  Haith  unto  Peter,  What,  could  ye  not  watch 
with  me  one  hour?  Watch  and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not 
int^>  temptation:  the  Kpirit  indeed  is  willing,  but  the  flesh 
\H  weak.  Again  a  second  time  he  went  away,  and  jjrayed, 
Baying,  O  my  Father,  if  thie  cannot  pasB  away,  except  I 
drink  it,  thy  will  be  done.  And  he  came  again  and  found 
them  Hleeping,  for  their  eycH  were  heavy  ;  and  they  knew 
not  what  to  answer  him.  And  he  left  them  again,  and 
went  away,  and  prayed  a  third  time,  Haying  again  the  same 
wordn.  And  there  appeared  unto  him  an  angel  from  heaven 
strengthening  him.  And  being  in  an  agony  he  prayed  more 
earnehtly ;  and  bin  sweat  V>ecarne  as  it  were  great  drops  of 
blood  falling  down  upon  the  ground.  And  when  he  rose 
up  from  his  prayer,  then  cometh  he  to  the  disciples,  and 
saith  unto  them,  Bleep  on  now,  and  take  your  rest:  it  is 
enough:  behold,  the  hour  is  at  hand,  and  the  Bon  of  man 
is  betray<;d  unto  the  hands  of  sinners.  Arise,  let  us  be 
going  ;  behold,  be  is  at  hand  that  betrayeth  me. 
97 


98  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

1.  Oethsemane!  What  a  synonym  for  the 
extreme  of  agony  this  word  has  become  !  The 
swiftly  passing  hours  have  brought  Him  here. 
He  has  come  to  the  first  battle-ground,  the 
battle-ground  with  all  in  Him  that  cries  out 
and  shrinks  with  horror  from  the  supreme 
sacrifice.  Never  was  such  anguish  endured  by 
another.  Was  the  suffering  even  of  the  cross 
more  bitter  than  this?  Read  the  story  again. 
Dwell  on  every  word.  See  how  sorrowful, 
amazed,  sore  troubled  beyond  comparison  He 
is.  Hear  His  bitter  moans,  such  intensity  of 
supplication !  Thrice  the  entreaty  to  His 
Father  !  See  the  drops  of  bloody  sweat  pressed 
from  Him,  in  His  exceeding  agony;  and  re- 
member His  abiding  consciousness  that  now, 
almost  at  once.  He  is  betrayed  into  the  hands 
of  His  enemies.  Nothing  is  spared  Him  of  the 
utmost  humiliation.  The  treachery  that  was 
so  shanjeful  and  awful  cannot  be  forgotten. 
He  repeats  the  thought,  "  He  is  at  hand  that 
betraj^eth  Me."  Read  the  stor}^,  and  weep  for 
this  Most  'Innocent,  suffering  in  your  behalf. 

Infinite  Pain.  This  was  no  mere  shrinking 
from  the  pains  of  bodily  death.  We  sadly  miss 
the  meaning  of  our  Lord's  passion  if  we  regard 
only  tlie  pangs  of  His  human  frame.  The 
poison  of  t])e  sin  He  was  expiating  gave  infinite 
terror  and  pain  to  every  moment  of  His  suffer- 
ing.    Nut  the  man  alone,  but  the  God-Man  was 


Tuesday  after  Oculi  99 

in  agony, — chiefly  because  the  sin  we  esteem  so 
lightly  was  revealed  in  all  its  awful  depths  of 
horror  to  Him  who  was  sinless,  who  abhorred 
sin,  yet  bore  it  and  claimed  it  as  His  own. 
When  He,  whose  whole  life  had  been  apart 
from  this  deadly  plague  of  the  soul,  who  had 
fought  incessantly  against  it,  came  to  this  hour 
in  which  He  was  to  identify  Himself  with  all 
the  world's  immeasurable  weight  of  sin  in  or- 
der to  free  the  sinners.  He  could  not  bear  it  at 
the  first.  He  craved  to  be  delivered  from  it. 
The  Divinity  in  Him  which  enabled  Him  to  be 
the  Saviour  made  infinitely  intolerable  the  pains 
and  shuclderings  of  His  Spirit. 

His  Desire.  One  thing  He  craved:  the  human 
fellowship  and  sympathy  of  those  who  had  been 
with  Him.  The  solitary  struggle  He  could  not 
indeed  share  with  another ;  but  to  know  that 
His  loved  ones,  the  three  who  were  nearest  to 
Him,  were  watching  with  Him,  were  praying 
for  Him ;  to  come  back  for  a  moment  from  His 
lonely  wrestling,  from  the  horror  of  black  dark- 
ness that  was  upon  His  soul,  and  find  a  ray  of 
comfort  in  their  tender,  loving  faces  and  their 
spiritual  kinship,  though  they  might  have  no 
word  to  speak, — this  would  have  helped  Him. 
It  was  denied  Him.  They  who,  a  little  while 
ago,  had  vaunted  their  willingness  to  die  for 
Him,  withheld  from  Him  in  this  hour  of  need 
the  poor  comfort  and  support  they  might  have 


100  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

given.  They  left  Him  utterly  alone.  Yet  He 
had  no  bitter  word  for  them,  no  stern  rebuke. 
Poor  weaklings,  their  spirits  were  indeed  wil- 
ling, yet  they  chose  this  time,  of  all  times,  to 
sleep.  What  helpless,  wortliless  things  we  are 
at  best ! 

His  Prayer.  Was  there  ever  such  prayer  as 
this?  All  His  agon}^,  all  His  shuddering  of 
soul,  could  not  control  His  unswerving  self-sur- 
render to  His  Father's  will.  After  the  first 
awful  crisis  of  unbearable  distress,  He  ceases 
even  to  ask  for  anything ;  He  accepts  His 
Father's  will  without  a  desire  of  His  own.  "If 
this  cannot  pass  awa}^  Thy  will  be  done."  This 
brings  rest,  this  is  rest, — in  whatever  grief,  to 
lie  submissive,  passive,  not  eager,  nor  striving, 
nor  filled  with  desire,  to  lie  all  yielded  to  the 
Father's  will,  in  the  Father's  hands.  And  the 
Father  forgot  Him  not.  Our  hearts  cry, 
"  Thank  God,  Thank  God,"  as  we  see  the 
angel  comforter.  He  is  not  utterly  deserted. 
Thank  God  ! 

There  is  much  for  us  in  what  we  have  already 
seen  of  Him.  But  there  are  other  thoughts 
that  bear  more  directly  on  our  duty. 

1.  We  ought  to  appreciate  the  privileye  of 
being  chosen  iofclhm-ship  with  Jesus.  The  Twelve 
liad  ever  been  honored  in  the  choice  of  Jesus  to 
nearest  companionship  with  Him.     The  three, 


Tuesday  after  Oculi  loi 

Peter,  James  and  John,  the  mner  circle,  that 
came  nearest  Him  in  love  and  in  their  under- 
standing of  Him,  had  been  honored  with  special 
privileges,  when  He  took  them  on  the  Mount 
to  see  Him  transfigured,  and  when  He  took 
them  into  the  maiden's  chamber  to  see  the  little 
daughter  of  Jairus  restored  to  life.  But  this 
was  their  highest  honor,  that  they  were  chosen 
now  to  be  with  Him  in  His  time  of  bitterness, 
to  help  Him  in  His  anguish.  They  failed. 
They  wearied,  they  slept.  Oh,  let  us  resolve, 
with  God's  gracious  help,  never  to  disappoint 
Him.  Does  He  call  us  to  service  and  to  sacri- 
fice in  some  especial  way,  near  to  His  side  ?  Is 
there  a  work  to  which  He  has  chosen  you, — to 
go  abroad  to  bear  His  message  to  the  lost  ones 
of  India,  to  enter  His  holy  service  in  the 
ministry  ?  as  a  deaconess  ?  in  some  official  sta- 
tion in  the  Church?  in  the  Sunday-school?  in 
the  League  ?  And  you  were  thinking  of  re- 
fusing the  call  and  shrinking  from  Him  ?  Do 
not  disappoint  Him.  Go  from  Gethsemane  to- 
day resolved,  whatever  He  wills,  to  do  it. 
That  one  awful  disappointment  should  be 
enough.  God  forbid  that  He  should  fail  to 
find  in  you  and  me  the  trust  and  fellowship  for 
which  He  looks. 

2.  Will  it  not  be  grateful  to  Him  even  now, 
in  His  glory,  to  receive  from  us  the  sym- 
;paihy    with   His    sorroius    that    He   missed   so 


102  The  Way  of  (he  Cross 

aiidly  oil  Muit  Jiwl'iil  niglit  ?  Is  not  lliis  one 
of  the  i',\\\cA'  purposes  of  our  obsorvance  of  tliis 
passion  soiison,  tliiit  wo  may  walk  wiMi  Ilini 
in  His  patli  of  agony,  fool  for  Him,  weep 
with  llim,  and  ])our  out  from  our  giatoful 
hearts  llu!  offering  of  loving  rcllow-IVcling  that 
was  iloniuil  llim  then?  Can  we  doubt  (luit  lie 
will  appreciate  it  (o-dity  ?  You  have  your  tears 
to  shed  over  the  sorrows  of  lietion,  over  tho 
tragedies  of  lustory.  Stoj)  here  awhile  and 
enter  into  tho  woiis  of  .Icsus  until  )'our(!3'es  aro 
wot,  and  your  hc^art  grows  soft  with  the  fellow- 
ship of  His  sufferings,  until  your  life  is 
wrought  inio  a  deeper,  tciuliMcr  eonnuunioii 
with  Him,  a  liriM'ommunion  that  shall  enduie 
throughout  eterl^t3^ 

Pniijcr.  ()  Savi(mr,  Who  suffered  the  untold 
agony  for  me,  give  me  a  heart  to  feel  Thy  sor- 
rows, so  that  all  my  stubborn nc^ss  may  become 
subnnssion  to  'V\\y  will,  ail  my  weakness 
strengthened  into  service  lor  'I'liee,  and  my 
whole  soul  forever  lilliul  with  self- forgetful, 
loyal  lov(\  eentered  in  Thee:  that  Thou  mayest 
fit  and  frame  me  i'or  Thy  gracious  pur|)os(^s, 
and  I  m;iy  never  fiiil  'J'he(^  O  Thou  to  Whom 
1  owe  lite  and  salvation  through  I'hine  anguish  I 
Allien. 


Wednesday  after  Oculi 

Now  Jiidus  iiIho,  <>ii<>  of  tlui  twolvo,  who  l)otmyo(l  him, 
kiU'W  lh(»  placo  :  loi-  .I^^HllH  olKinuiH  ichoiUhI  IhilluT  willi 
hiH  (liHciph'M.  .IikIhm  (h«ii,  Imviii^  rcc.oivod  i\ni  lumd  of 
Holdicrs,  unci  olVu-ciH  iVoin  tho  (ihuif  pridHls  and  Ihr  IMuiri- 
ntu'M,  Hiul  th»<  iildcTH,  coiiHlh  IhilluT,  vvhiUi  ho  yvl  Hpiiko, 
with  hinlniiH  nnd  (orchrM  itiid  willi  hwohIh  iind  hIiivcs. 
.I«'HUH  tht'K'Cort*,  knowing  nil  Iho  Ihinj^H  (lm(.  wow  <'(nniiijj; 
upon  him,  wt-iil.  (oilh,  ami  Hiiith  uulo  Ihcin,  Whom  nrck 
yd  V  Thoy  iiUHWvn'd  him,  .It'Hii.s  of  Na/iiiclii.  .Ir.siiH  miilh 
uiilo  Iht^m,  I  am  Itr.  And  .liichiH  hImo,  who  hct.rayod  him, 
wiiH  Hiandiiifjj  wilii  Ihcm.  Whon  lh«Mrlor(i  h(^  Hai<l  unto 
t.h(Mu,  I  am  //*',  thry  wnil.  hackward,  aiwl  l»ll  1»»  «1.»j  jriouiid. 
Aj;aii»  l.h(Moror(>  h«^  askod  th<MO,  Whom  nvvk  yoV  And  thry 
Haid,  .h.siiH  of  Na/art>lh.  Jthuh  auMWorcd,  J  tohl  you  that 
I  am  he:  i(  (hrn'foK^  yo  Hcvk  uu\  h>l.  (hcHo  ^'.o  Ihcir  way  : 
thai  Iho  word  minht  h(«  rulliMcd  whi«h  lio  Hpako,  Of  tho.so 
wliom  Ihou  hasi  ^ivcti  m(^  I  h>.sl>  nol.  oiw. 

Now  ho  thai,  hrlraycd  him  gavo  Ihom  a  Hi^u,  Hayinjj;, 
WIJomHotwtM"  I  Hhali  kisH,  that,  \h  ho:  iak«i  him  and  h;id 
him  away  Haloly.  Ami  Hiraijfht way  ho  catiui  to  .Icsus,  ami 
Haid,  Hail,  Ivahbi ;  and  kiMHtul  him.  And  .Icsmm  naid  iiiilo 
him,  l''rii'nd,  <Io  tiial,  lor  which  thou  art,  (tom«\  Hot rayt>Hl. 
thou  tho  Sou  of  man  with  a  kiHsV  Thou  tlu^y  oamo  aiul 
laid  haiulH  ou  .1»>hu.s,  aud  took  him.  Aud  whou  llM>y  thati 
worti  about  him  Haw  what  wouhl  fcdlow,  thoy  Haid,  LortI, 
Hhail  wo  Hiuih^  with  tlu^  nwortl?  Simou  Wivv  lluM«>lbro 
havinjj;  a  nword  drow  it,  au<l  Hlru<k  tho  lii^h  priont's  Horv- 
ftut,  aud  (III  olV  his  ri^^ht  oar.  Ibit  .Iohuh  auHWorod  aud 
Haicl,  Sullor  yo  thus  far.  Aud  ho  loiu-hod  liirt  ear  and 
hoalod  him.  Now  tiu'  Horvaul's  uamo  waH  MalohuH.  Johus 
thorolbro  Haiti  unto  l'««l<'r,  Tut  up  tho  nword  into  tho 
aheath  :  tho  cup  which  tho  leather  hath  givou  mo,  ahall  1 
103 


104  '^^^^  Way  ol'  tlio  Cross 

not  drink  it  ?  All  (hoy  that  take  tho  sayouI  shall  perish 
Avith  tho  sword.  Ov  thinkost  thou  that  1  cannot  bcsoerU 
my  Father,  and  he  shall  even  now  send  me  move  than 
twelve  lejjions  of  an«;els  ?  How  then  shonld  the  seviptnves 
be  lullilled,  that  thus  it  must  be  ? 

Another  sta(/c  in  the  inatohloss  story  has  been 
reached,  and  Jesus  is  no  longer  in  the  hands  of 
His  friends,  but  a  prisoner.  As  He  spoke  the 
closing  words  of  the  last  lesson,  one  niiglit 
have  seen,  under  tho  branches  of  the  trees,  the 
glimmering  of  torches  in  the  darkness.  The 
scene  was  weird  and  impressive.  He  knew  who 
the  torch  bearers  were,  and  went  to  meet  them. 
No  attempt  at  llight,  no  endeavor  to  escape,  no 
effort  at  concealment.  Even  tliese  hard  hearts 
must  have  been  moved  with  admiration  at  the 
heroism  of  the  One  they  came  to  seize.  In  (he 
calm  majesty  of  His  dearly  bought  ]>oace  of 
soul.  He  speaks  first,  and  asks  them,  ''  Whom 
seek  ye  ?  "  They  answer,  ''  Jesus  of  Nazareth." 
The  simple  response,  'Vl  am  He,"  is  all  that  He 
utters.  What  strange  power  goes  forth  with 
the  quietly  spoken  words  ?  Surely  some  re- 
cognition of  the  fact  that  He  is  no  mere  man, 
must  have  touched  their  minds  as  they  found 
themselves  overwhelmed  and  driven  back  to 
earth,  before  Him,  as  by  some  invisible  hand. 
And  how  Judas  must  have  trembled  I  For 
there  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  rough  band. 
Again  the  (picstion  and  the  answer,  and  then 


Wednesday  after  Ocull  loj 

IIo  asks  for  tho  freedom  of  tJjo  disciples  who 
were  with  ilirn,  thouglitful  and  careful,  even  in 
the  very  hour  of  His  own  arrest,  not  for  Him- 
self, but  for  them. 

Judas  might  have  spared  Him  that  last  in- 
dignity of  using  tJhe  loh'/a  of  fric/njhld'p  as  the 
mark  of  His  idf-ntity.  But  the  baseness  of  the 
greed  for  gold,  that  can  make  even  treachery 
possible,  knows  not  where  to  stop.  He  had 
used  his  fjiendship,  and  the  knowledge  it  gave 
liini,  for  gain, — }jad  trarled  upon  it  for  thirty 
pieces  of  silver  ;  what  matter  if  he  used  friend- 
ship's holy  seal  and  expression  to  indic?.tc  the 
One  upon  whr^m  base,  rough  hands  should 
fasten,  that  they  might  carry  Him  away  to  new 
indignities?  Jesus  understood  him.  *' Friend," 
He  calls  him  ;  and  the  soul  of  Judas  must  have 
writhed  under  the  consciousness  of  his  false 
friendship  ;  then,  "  Retrayest  thou  the  Son  of 
man  with  a  kiss?"  Nowhere,  in  all  these  trying 
scenes,  was  Jesus  deceived.  He  knew  what  lay 
before  Him  at  every  step.  Judas  had  indeed 
betrayed,  but  not  sur[>rised  Him.  He  (jave 
Himself  up  to  death.  He  was  not  a  helpless 
victim.  The  stroke  of  IViter's  sword  in  His 
defence  was  not  in  accordance  with  His  will,  so 
in  His  quenchless  love.  He  healed  the  man  who 
had  cf)me  out  to  take  Him.  He  was  fully  con- 
scious of  His  power  to  escape.  Celestial  co- 
horts, legions  of  angels,  were  ready  to  speed 


io6  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

clown  the  pathway  of  the  skies,  if  He  woukl 
speak  the  word.  How  easily  He  could  have 
saved  Himself!  But  then  had  ice  been  lost. 
He  chose  His  own  distress,  and  gave  Himself 
up  to  die. 

1.  It  is  good  for  us  to  notice  the  heroism  of 
Christ.  Men  have  found  goodness  beautiful 
and  attractive,  but  they  have  fancied  it  a  more 
fitting  attribute  of  the  old  or  of  the  weak  than 
of  the  young  and  strong.  The  goodness  and 
gentleness  of  Christ  have  never  been  denied 
nor  overlooked  ;  it  is  well  to  ponder,  too,  the 
majestic  manliness  of  Christ.  He  met  these 
foes  with  that  calm  bravery  which  owes  noth- 
ing to  the  artificial  stimulus  of  the  battlefield's 
excitement.  He  met  them  like  an  uncrowned 
king.  With  every  woe  and  grief  before  Him, 
He  was  as  free  from  fear  as  if  the  angelic 
legions  were  about  Him,  and  He  safe.  Yet 
He  was  going  to  meet  such  a  fate,  fraught  with 
such  miser}^  as  no  other  man  ever  met.  This 
was  a  man  upon  whom  you  have  been  looking, 
— a  hero^  a  l-iiKj  of  courage,  a  pattern  of  bravery. 
Such  a  leader  is  worthy  of  the  allegiance  and 
admiration  of  the  truest  men  of  earth.  Do  not 
withhold  your  recognition.     Be  His  followers ! 

2.  There  is  treachery  to-day  I  Again  and 
again  His  followers  are  seen  among  His  foes. 
In  the  world,  in  social  life,  on  the  exchange,  in 


Wednesday  after  Oculi  107 

politics,  we  find  the  disciples  on  the  side  of  the 
enemies  of  Jesus.  Men  even  use  the  Church 
and  the  Communion-table  for  personal  ag- 
grandizement,— yes,  even  to  cover  up  and 
shield  from  suspicion  their  hidden  lives  of  evil. 
It  is  the  kiss  of  treachery.  Is  it  not  betraying 
Him,  when  we,  whom  He  has  loved,  whom  He 
has  received  into  His  covenant  of  friendship  by 
our  baptism,  who  have  acknowledged  Him  as 
Master  and  Lord,  in  our  confirmation  vows,  are 
found  with  those  that  hate  Him  ?  Is  it  not  be- 
traying Him  when  we  sully  the  name  we  bear, 
by  sinful  lives  ? 

3.  It  is  a  grand  thing  to  be  obedient  to  the 
Captain,  Peter's  stroke  with  the  sword  looked 
loyal  and  loving,  but  He  would  have  shown 
more  love  and  better  loyalty,  by  waiting  for  the 
word  of  command.  Futile  and  absurd  was  the 
unplanned,  unauthorized,  and  unsupported  at- 
tack. How  vain  the  one  sword  wielded  by  the 
unskilled  arm  that  struck  only  the  ear,  when 
he  doubtless  aimed  at  the  head,  in  comparison 
with  the  twelve  legions  that  only  waited  the 
Captain's  word  !  Poor,  weak,  impetuous  Peter. 
The  Lord  needed  his  companionship  awhile 
ago,  and  Peter  slept;  the  Lord  cares  only  for 
his  loyalty,  now,  and  Peter  flashes  out  a  sword. 
After  awhile  this  valiant  defender  will  tremble 
at  a  maidservant's  taunt,  and  deny  his  Lord. 
Oh,  the  great  thing  is  not  to  be  fighting,  or 


io8  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

sleeping,  or  serving ;  the  great  thing  is  to  be 
obeying — waiting  for  His  Word,  then  doing 
His  will.  Be  close  to  Him  in  spirit,  in  sym- 
pathy, in  submission.     Are  you  like  Peter  ? 

Prayer.  O  Thou,  Who  didst  so  nobly  yield 
Thyself  for  me,  let  me  not  fail  Thee  in  my 
courage  or  my  faithfulness,  but  yield  myself  to 
Thee,  for  what  Thou  wilt.  Be  Thou  my  Cap- 
tain, and  I  will  obey  Thy  voice,  O  Thou 
Whose  Word  is  power,  and  Whose  heart  is 
love !     Amen, 


Thursday  after  Oculi 

In  that  hour  said  Jesus  to  the  multitudes,  unto  the  chief 
priests,  and  captains  of  the  temple,  and  elders  that  were 
come  against  him,  Are  ye  come  out  as  against  a  robber 
with  swords  and  staves  to  seize  me  ?  I  sat  daily  in  the 
temple  teachiug,  and  ye  took  me  not.  But  all  this  is 
come  to  pass,  that  the  scriptures  of  the  prophets  might  be 
fulfilled :  this  is  your  hour  and  the  power  of  darkness. 
Then  all  the  disciples  left  him,  and  fled.  So  the  band 
and  the  chief  captain,  and  the  officers  of  the  Jews,  seized 
Jesus  and  bound  him,  and  led  him  to  Annas  first ;  for  he 
was  father-in-law  to  Caiaphas,  who  was  high  priest  that 
year.  Now  Caiaphas  was  he  who  gave  counsel  to  the 
Jews,  that  it  was  expedient  that  one  man  should  die  for  the 
people. 

And  Annas  sent  him  bound  to  the  high  priest  Caiaphas, 
and  there  were  come  together  with  him  all  the  chief  priests 
and  the  elders  and  the  scribes. 

The  Protest.  It  is  to  be  noticed,  here  and 
afterward,  that  Jesus,  either  by  words  or  by  the 
rebuke  of  silence,  protested  against  every  step 
of  the  iniquitous  proceedings  by  which  the  at- 
tempt was  made  to  give  an  appearance  of 
legality  and  justice  to  this  predetermined  mur- 
der of  Him.  Stern,  yet  calm  and  fair,  was  this 
arraignment  of  the  brutal  and  cowardly  ar- 
rest. Had  He  acted  like  a  desperate  and 
vicious  criminal,  that  they  should  come  to  take 
Him  under  cover  of  darkness,  by  ambush,  and 
with  all  the  equipment  of  violence?  Had 
109 


no  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Himself  or  His  work  been  hid  away  in  secret 
places?  Daily  He  had  sat  in  the  temple,  teach- 
ing publicly,  and  they  took  Him  not;  nay,  they 
dared  not.  The  deed  of  darkness  needed  the 
hour  of  darkness  and  the  power  of  the  Prince 
of  darkness.  He  could  not  more  plainly  have  ar- 
raigned them  as  the  willing  and  obedient  slaves 
of  Satan.  And  whether  some  fear  of  the  super- 
natural might  of  evil  that  was  arrayed  against 
Him,  or  some  inexplicable  panic  seized  them 
now,  it  was  at  just  this  time  that  the  poor  dis- 
ciples, who  had  boasted  of  their  willingness  and 
courage  to  die  with  Him,  forsook  Him,  all,  and 
fled.  Deserted!  He  who  would  not  desert 
them  to  save  Himself!  Not  a  friend  beside 
Him,  no  angel  now  to  strengthen  Him !  But 
there  was  no  need.  In  the  agony  of  the  garden, 
and  the  submission  of  His  soul  there.  He  had 
put  on  the  armor  of  proof,  and  He  was  strong. 
Deserted,  yet  He  would  and  could  walk  on 
alone,  through  the  griefs  and  shameful  treat- 
ment that  still  awaited  Him. 

Before. the  Judges.  They  knew  well  where  to 
take  Him.  The  plot  was  all  arranged.  He 
should  have  no  impartial  hearing.  He  should 
stand  before  no  judge  who  had  not  already 
prejudged  Him.  Quick,  before  the  light  comes, 
and  the  shadows  flee  away,  and  the  honest  sun- 
shine shame  them  in  their  faces  !  before  the 
disciples  (too  thoroughly  despairing  to  attempt 


Thursday  after  Oculi  ill 

it)  gather  friends  and  succor  Him !  Quick, 
though  all  justice  and  honor  forbade  it,  to  the 
house  of  Annas,  the  father-in-law,  friend,  and 
fellow-plotter  of  Caiaphas;  then  to  Caiaphas 
himself,  most  noble,  upright  judge,  who  had  al- 
ready given  his  verdict  that  it  was  well  for  this 
one  man  to  die,  and  not  that  the  nation  perish  I 
He  spoke,  unworthy  instrument  that  he  was,  as 
the  mouth-piece  of  the  truth,  yet  he  spoke  in 
bitter,  sinful  hatred  of  the  True  One.  And  he 
is  to  decide  this  cause  !  O,  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
Thou  art  in  the  power  of  Thy  foes,  and  Thy 
doom  is  fixed ! 

1.  It  is  an  awful  thing  to  be  on  the  wrong 
side.  These  priests  and  captains  had  won  their 
purpose,  and  the  Man  of  Galilee  was  their  pris- 
oner; but,  none  the  less.  He  was  and  is  the 
Lord,  blessed  forevermore,  while  they,  in  the 
very  moment  of  their  triumph,  were  prisoners 
of  the  wrath  of  God.  They  w^ere  defeated  al- 
ready, and  He,  in  His  manacles,  was  Conqueror. 
There  is  no  victorious  fighting  against  God. 
Often  and  often,  God  is  not  "on  the  side  of  the 
heaviest  artillery."  Lincoln  was  right  when  he 
answered  to  one  who  "  hoped  God  was  on  their 
side,"  that  the  important  thing  was  different, 
namely,  that  they  should  be  on  God's  side. 
Let  us  find  out  on  which  side  God  is,  and  let 
us  fight  there ;  then  are  we  sure  to  conquer. 


1 1 2  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

God  forbid  that  in  anything  you  should  be 
found  fighting  against  Him.  Where  are  you  in 
the  great  battle  of  to-day?  It  is  not  hard  for 
the  earnest,  unselfish,  prayerful  soul,  to  find 
God's  side,  Christ's  side,  in  any  question.  Are 
you  firmly  resolved  that,  having  found  it,  that 
is  your  side,  at  whatever  cost  and  risk?  If  so, 
you  are  forever  safe,  and  you  shall  win  the 
victory. 

2.  Do  we  count  the  Word  sure  and  irrecious^  as 
Christ  counted  it?  Two  things  we  notice  :  He 
knew  it,  and  He  comforted  liimself  in  its  fulfil- 
ment. Where  another  might  have  seen  cause 
only  for  utter  despair.  He  remembered  that  in 
the  Scriptures  of  the  prophets  it  had  been  written 
concerning  their  "  hour  and  the  power  of  dark- 
ness "  ;  and  if  this  was  a  part  of  God's  plan, 
now  in  process  of  fulfilment,  it  was  no  ground 
for  discouragement  or  despair,  but  only  another 
proof  of  the  truth  and  faithfulness  of  God,  from 
whom  He  held  many  promises  of  precious  com- 
fort. So,  if  your  sorrows  and  trials  are  part  of 
God's  plaji  for  you ;  if  you  read  in  His  Word 
of  them,  and  of  His  needed  grace  to  bear  them, 
why  are  you  cast  down,  why  should  you  de- 
spair? Your  trials  prove  His  truth,  as  well  as 
your  joys  I     Trust  in  His  Word  and  in  Him. 

Prayer.  Lord  Jesus,  as  we  see  Thee  in  the 
hands  of  Thy  foes,  we  long  to  comfort  Thee 


Thursday  after  Oculi  113 

with  the  love  and  trust  of  Thy  friends,  whom 
Thou  hast  redeemed  with  Tliy  sorrows.  While 
others  fight  against  Thee,  we  long  to  be  found 
on  Thy  side,  and  to  share,  if  we  may.  Thy 
griefs,  assured  that  we  shall  also  share  Thy 
victory.  We  would  die  for  Thee,  that  we  may 
live  with  Thee.  We  would  endure,  that  we 
may  reign  with  Thee.  We  would  not  deny 
Thee,  lest  Thou  deny  us.  Pardon  our  sins, 
pity  our  weakness,  and  complete  our  redemp- 
tion, for  Thy  Name's  sake.     Amen. 


Friday  after  Oculi 

And  Simon  Peter  followed  Jesus  afixr  off,  and  so  did 
another  disciple.  Now  that  disciple  was  known  unto  the 
high  priest,  and  entered  in  with  Jesus  into  the  court  of 
the  high  priest ;  but  Peter  was  standing  at  the  door  without. 
So  the  other  disciple,  who  was  known  unto  the  high  priest, 
went  out  and  spake  unto  her  that  kept  the  door,  and 
brought  in  Peter,  to  see  the  end.  The  maid  therefore  that 
kept  the  door  saith  unto  Peter,  Art  thou  also  o?ie  of  this 
man's  disciples?  But  he  denied  saying.  Woman,  I  am  not. 
Now  the  servants  and  the  officers  were  standing  there,  hav- 
ing made  a  fire  of  coals;  for  it  was  cold  ;  and  they  were 
warming  themselves  :  and  Peter  also  was  with  them,  stand- 
ing and  warming  himself:  and  the  cock  crew. 

The  high  priest  therefore  asked  Jesus  of  his  disciples, 
and  of  his  teaching.  Jesus  answered  him,  I  have  spoken 
openly  to  the  world ;  I  ever  taught  in  synagogues,  and  in 
the  temple,  where  all  the  Jews  come  together  ;  and  in  se- 
cret spake  I  nothing.  Why  askest  thou  me?  ask  them 
that  have  heard  me,  what  I  spake  unto  them  :  behold,  these 
know  the  things  which  I  said.  And  when  he  had  said  this, 
one  of  the  officers  standing  by  struck  Jesus  with  his  hand, 
saying,  Answerest  thou  the  high  priest  so?  Jesus  answered 
him.  If  I  have  spoken  evil,  bear  witness  of  the  evil;  but 
if  well,  why  smitest  thou  me? 

A  Vivid  Picture.  A  graphic  stoiy  it  is  tliat 
you  have  just  read.  It  must  have  come  from 
the  lips  of  an  eyewitness.  No  wonder  painters 
have  often  portrayed  it :  it  is  a  wovd-picture. 
Simon  Peter  following  Jesns,  but  afar  off;  John 
entering  in  while  Peter  stood  outside  by  the 
114 


Friday  after  Oculi  1 1 5 

fire  of  coals,  warming  himself, — these  are 
simple  touches  that  show  liow  clearly,  in 
after  days,  the  whole  scene,  and  all  connected 
with  it,  come  back  to  John,  as  he  had  beheld  it 
on  that  ever  memorable  night.  This  narrative 
is  no  fiction. 

The  Investigation.  Listen  to  the  judge,  be- 
fore whom  stands  the  Innocent  One.  The  high 
priest  asks  of  the  teaching  of  Jesus.  His  an- 
swer is  a  manifestly  simple  one.  He  is  there 
to  be  tried.  They  are  the  accusers,  and  it  is 
their  business  to  produce  evidence.  He  only 
dwells  upon  the  fact  that  He  had  done  no  un- 
derhand plotting  (as  had  they).  His  work  had 
ever  been  open  and  public.  In  synagogue  or 
temple  He  had  taught ;  let  men  who  had  heard 
Him  testify.  In  this  frequent  public  instruc- 
tion many  must  have  heard  Him  who  could  be 
easily  found.  As  for  Him,  there  was,  as  j^et, 
no  charge  for  Him  to  answer,  so  there  was  no 
necessit}^  for  Him  to  speak.  Such  a  dignified 
and  tenable  position  left  the  prosecution  tem- 
porarily embarrassed.  This  procedure  was  in- 
deed in  the  nature  of  a  protest  against  the 
whole  unwarrantable  travesty  of  justice,  yet  it 
constituted  no  cause  for  just  offence.  But 
there  was  present  one  of  those  rude,  coarse 
creatures  who  delight  to  be  over-officious  on 
the  side  that  promises  success,  and  rejoice  in 
any  opportunity  to  bully  and  oppress  such  as 


ii6  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

are  in  their  power.  Possessing  a  little  au- 
thority as  an  officer  (probably  of  the  temple 
police),  this  fellow  struck  Jesus  on  the  cheek 
with  his  hand,  seeking  thus  to  curry  favor  with 
his  master,  and  asking,  "Answerest  thou  the 
high  priest  so?"  With  marvellous  meekness, 
but  with  the  same  unfailing  refusal  to  suffer 
the  wickedness  and  insolence  of  His  enemies  to 
go  unchallenged,  the  Master,  thus  humiliated, 
gives  an  unanswerable  response:  "If  I  have 
spoken  evil,  bear  witness  of  the  evil,  but  if 
well,  why  smitest  thou  Me?"  Was  there  ever 
such  dignity  with  so  great  meekness?  such 
brutal  wrong  done  to  spotless  innocence?  such 
shame,  so  mildly  yet  plainly  reproved  ?  The 
incident  was  significant.  They  had  no  answer; 
there  was  no  accusation.  For  all  defence  of 
their  unrighteous  prosecution,  they  smite  Him 
on  the  cheek.  The  cause  that  needs  such  vindi- 
cation is  the  devil's  own  ! 

1.  A  strange  inkier  condition  is  shown  in 
the  action  of  the  two  disciples  that  were  fol- 
lowing Jesus.  Love  would  not  let  them  turn 
utterly  away,  abandoning  Him  to  His  awful 
fate ;  fear  would  not  let  them  take  their  stand 
by  His  side,  and  bravely  avow  their  friendship. 
It  could  have  helped  Him  none  or  little,  had 
they  been  nearer  to  Him,  yet  following  Him 
afar  off  was  a  dangerous  thing  to  them.     It  is 


Friday  after  Oculi  117 

impossible  to  know  what  would  have  come  to 
pass  if  Peter's  love  had  been  stronger  and  His 
fear  less.  If,  instead  of  making  desperate  and 
futile  efforts  to  prove  his  ignorance  of  the 
famous  prisoner,  he  had  drawn  near  to  Him, 
looked  on  His  blessed  face,  heard  the  unjust 
trial,  and  seen  the  stinging  blow,  then  it  might 
have  been  that  the  memory  of  the  warning, 
with  the  silent  influence  of  his  Friend  and 
Teacher,  would  have  kept  him  from  that  fear- 
ful fall.  At  least  so  much  is  plain,  that  there 
is  no  profit  to  Him  or  to  us,  in  a  half-hearted 
following  of  Jesus.  Thorough  devotedness, 
complete  consecration,  whole-hearted  love  and 
allegiance, — no  less  than  this  is  His  least  due 
from  us.  How  dare  we  offer  Him  less?  Less 
is  idolatry;  for  whatever  we  fear,  love  and 
trust  more  than  Him  is  our  God.  That  a  man 
should  deny  Jesus  seems  to  us  now  as  strange 
and  impossible  as  it  did  to  Peter  in  the  upper 
chamber,  with  the  holy  words  still  ringing  in 
his  ears ;  but  it  will  seem  easier,  as  it  did  to 
him,  when  foes  are  strong  about  us,  when 
danger  or  mockery  lies  before  those  who  con- 
fess Him.  He  only  will  be  faithful,  wlio  has 
learned,  before  the  time  of  stress, — like  Daniel 
and  his  brave  companions, — to  let  Him  be  first, 
and  to  give  Him  undivided  trust  and  love. 
"  Unite  my  heart,  O  Lord,  to  fear  Thy  name ! " 
2.     Have  you  ever  been  ashamed  of  Jesus  f 


ii8  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Have  there  been  times  when  in  words  or  deeds, 
or  by  silence,  you  have  said :  *'  I  am  not  one 
of  His  disciples  "  ?  Do  you  expose  yourself  to 
such  associations  and  temptations  as  may  rob 
you  of  your  courage,  turning  you  into  that  most 
despicable  and  cowardly  thing,  a  denier  of  his 
friend  ?  It  is  easy  to  be  ashamed  of  Jesus  in 
the  world  of  fashion  and  wealth,  in  the  circles 
of  a  certain  sort  of  culture,  or  amongst  those 
who  make  a  mock  of  the  lowly  Nazarene.  But 
it  is  ignoble;  it  is  unworthy  of  a  true  soul;  it 
is  a  shameful  tiling !  Open  your  heart  to  His 
Spirit,  who  makes  men  bold,  and  rejoice  that 
you  are  not  called  to  witness  for  Him  with 
your  life.     Be  loyal  to  the  Kingliest  of  Kings ! 

Prayer.  O  Christ,  if  I  deny  Thee,  it  is  not 
Thee  alone  that  I  shame,  but  my  own  soul. 
Give  me  the  fullness  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  I 
may  speak  the  word  of  witness,  that  I  may  do 
the  act  of  faithful  service,  that  I  may  be  proud 
and  glad,  even  where  there  are  no  others  con- 
fessing Thee,  to  claim  Thee  as  my  Master  and 
my  Friend !  For  Thou  art  worthy,  Who  hast 
not  denied  me  before  Thy  Heavenly  Father, 
and  Who  didst  give  Thyself  to  make  me  Thine. 
Amen. 


Saturday  after  Oculi 

Now  the  chief  priests  and  the  whole  council  sought  wit- 
ness against  Jesus  to  put  him  to  death  ;  and  found  it  not, 
though  many  false  witnesses  came.  For  many  bare  false 
witness  against  him,  and  their  witness  agreed  not  together. 
And  there  stood  up  certain,  and  bare  false  witness  against 
him,  saying,  We  heard  him  say,  I  will  destroy  this  temple 
that  is  made  with  hands,  and  in  three  days  I  will  build 
another  made  without  hands.  And  not  even  so  did  their 
witness  f.gree  together.  And  the  high  priest  stood  up  in 
the  midst,  and  asked  Jesus,  saying,  Answerest  thou  noth- 
ing? what  is  it  which  these  witness  against  thee?  But  he 
held  his  peace,  and  answered  nothing.  Again  the  high 
priest  asked  him,  and  saith  unto  him,  I  adjure  thee  by  the 
living  God  that  thou  tell  us;  Art  thou  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  the  Blessed  God?  And  Jesus  said,  I  am:  and  ye  shall 
see  the  Son  of  man  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  power,  and 
coming  with  the  clouds  of  heaven.  And  the  high  priest 
rent  his  clothes,  and  saith.  What  further  need  have  we  of 
witnesses?    Ye  have   heard  the  blasphemy:    what  think 


It  is  a  disgraceful  tash  upon  which  the  reli- 
gious leaders  of  the  Jews  have  entered.  There 
is  no  true  witness  to  condemn  Him,  and  the 
purpose  is,  not  to  give  Him  trial, — the  purpose 
is  simply  to  condemn  Him.  So  they  must  have 
false  witnesses.  Word  is  sent  out  through  Jer- 
usalem. The  high  priests,  who  have  paid  blood- 
money  to  a  wretched  traitor,  who  have  used 
cruelty  and  shameful  injustice  against  a  holy 
man,  who  have  already  condemned  the  inno- 
119 


120  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

cent  in  then-  hearts,  are  now  ready  to  add  to 
these  crimes,  hy  undertaking  suhornation  of 
perjury ! 

False  Witnesses.  Send  out  the  word  through 
the  city, — "  Wanted !  false  witnesses  against 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  liars,  perjurers!  No  honest 
man  need  apply  !  A  good  price  will  be  paid  to 
any  one  willing  to  sell  his  soul.  Make  applica- 
tion at  the  house  of  the  high  priest,  Caiaphas." 
Many  came,  but,  as  is  often  the  case  with  false 
witnesses,  their  testimony  does  not  agree.  Then 
send  for  others !  Here  come  certain  with  a 
miserable  perversion  of  words  that  He  once 
spoke.  The  devil  does  not  fail,  even  to-da}^,  to 
use  this  same  method  of  distorting  and  garb- 
ling a  man's  words,  to  make  tliem  mean  an- 
other thing  than  wliat  he  said.  These  are  most 
desirable  witnesses,  so  bring  them  on!  Alas! 
even  their  words  will  not  agree !  Something 
must  be  done.  The  high  priest  again  under- 
takes to  question  the  prisoner,  their  own  Mes- 
siah, the  Son  of  God.  "  What  is  it  that  these 
witness  against  Thee?  Answerest  Thou  noth- 
ing ?  "  Such  tactics,  in  our  courts  of  law,  some- 
times provoke  an  innocent  man  to  such  in- 
dignant reply  as  to  prejudice  his  cause.  Not 
so  with  Jesus.  "What  do  these  witness?" 
Plainly,  they  had  witnessed  notliing.  So  Jesus 
answered  nothing.  There  was  no  accusation, 
no  need  of  a  reply. 


Saturday  after  Oculi  12 1 

The  Important  Question.  Baffled  again,  Caia- 
plias  adjures  Him  by  the  Living  God  to  tell 
them,  "  Art  Thou  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the 
Blessed  God  ?  "  Ah  !  here  was  a  question  He 
liad  come  to  earth  to  answer,  and  He  will  an- 
swer it.  He  said,  *'  I  am."  Yet  even  now 
there  are  men  who  say  that  He  never  claimed 
to  be  divine,  and  that  He  is  not  divine.  Let 
His  words  be  set  against  theirs, — which  is  the 
liar?  Then  He  added  more, — "Ye  shall  see 
the  Son  of  man  [now  so  despised  and  scorned] 
sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  power,  and  coming 
with  the  clouds  of  Heaven."  Quick  of  wit, 
the  high  priest  saw  his  opportunity.  With 
well  simulated  horror,  he  cried  aloud,  "  No  need 
of  witnesses ! "  That  was  well,  since  they 
could  find  none  with  testimony  fit  to  be  con- 
sidered. "  Ye  have  heard  the  blasphemy  !  " 
He  rent  his  clothes ; — well  if  he  had  rent  them 
in  repentance  for  his  own  desperate  and  wicked 
deeds !  "  What  think  ye  ?  "  Now  comes  the 
answer :  "  Worthy  of  death  !  "  So  much  of 
the  farce  is  done.  The  sentence  determined 
upon  is  at  last  extorted  with  a  show  of  reason. 
Caiaphas,  thou  hast  done  well  thy  hellish  task ! 
It  remains  for  those  who  call  themselves  Chris- 
tians, and  yet  deny  that  Christ  is  the  Son  of 
God,  to  exonerate  Him  from  the  charge  of 
Caiaphas.  Either  Jesus  Christ  is  divine,  or 
Caiaphas   is    right,  and    the   prisoner   uttered 


122  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

blasphemy  !  Join  the  rabble,  and  shriek  with 
them  before  the  Roman  judge  for  His  death, 
ye  who  deny  His  truth !  But  we  will  worship, 
and  trust  in  Him,  as  in  very  truth  God  of  God, 
Light  of  Light,  and  Lord  of  Lords  ! 

1.  Peter  did  well  to  fear,  but  he  feared  the 
wrong  thing!  How  could  a  little  maid,  or  a 
servant  of  the  high  priest,  or  a  sword  in  his 
heart  have  hurt  him,  as  the  stings  of  his  own 
conscience  hurt  him  ?  or  as  the  look  of  Jesus, 
— not  vindictive,  but  full  of  pain  and  of  re- 
proach, when  the  cock's  crow  brought  tardy 
remembrance  of  the  awful  sin.  Ah  !  what  fools 
we  are  to  fear  aught  else  than  God  and  con- 
science. The  awakening  may  come  far  later 
than  with  Peter,  but  surely  one  day,  all  who 
have  denied  and  resisted  Him  shall  meet  His 
look  bent  on  them  from  the  judgment  seat,  and 
shall  go  out  to  weep  and  groan  and  gnash  their 
teeth, — out  into  the  darkness  where  no  light  of 
truth  will  ever  come. 

2.  Beware  of  2^rejudice.  It  can  turn  a  just 
man  into. an  unjust;  it  can  sap  the  sense  of 
honor  ;  it  can  lead  to  deeds  the  very  thought 
of  wliicli  would  once  have  made  us  blush. 
Prejudice  can  induce  the  use  of  means  that  soil 
the  hands  of  him  that  touches ;  it  can  degrade 
men  wlio  miglit  have  been  noble;  it  can  so 
blind  the  soul  that  no  testimony  will  bring  con- 


Saturday  after  Oculi  123 

viction.  Caiaphas,  if  only  he  had  deigned  to 
give  impartial  test  to  the  claims  of  Jesus  at  the 
first,  might  have  found  the  truth.  But  he  be- 
came the  tool  of  Satan,  and  perhaps  even  com- 
pelled himself  to  believe  he  was  doing  God 
service.  So  much  of  selfish  fear  that  he  might 
lose  power  and  influence  entered  into  the  for- 
mation of  his  prejudice,  that  he  could  not  see 
the  abominations  of  the  course  he  took,  "Bet- 
ter that  one  man  die  "  ?  Surely  not  if  you, 
tlirough  fraud  and  wickedness,  must  become 
His  murderer.  Oh,  that  we  might  give  an  open 
heart  to  the  witness  concerniug  our  Lord ! 
There  is  no  unbeliever  on  earth,  who,  if  he  is 
willing  to  forsake  the  sins  that  hold  him,  and 
to  give  earnest,  honest  investigation  to  the  tes- 
timony of  the  words  and  deeds  of  Jesus,  will 
not  be  convinced.  Touch  the  "  honest  skeptic" 
at  the  core  of  his  heart,  and  you  will  find  cher- 
ished sin,  or  else  ignorance  beyond  excuse. 

3.  He  ivill  come^  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of 
power.  Again,  in  these  Lenten  lessons.  He 
speaks  of  His  return.  Before,  to  His  friends, 
as  a  blessed  comfort ;  now,  to  His  enemies,  as 
a  terrible  warning.  Which  will  it  bring  to  you 
— comfort,  or  terror?  There  is  no  better  test 
of  your  heart's  relation  to  Him,  than  the  ques- 
tion, If  He  comes  to-day,  in  His  glory,  in  the 
clouds  of  Heaven,  will  you  be  glad,  or  horror- 
struck  ?     To  Paul,  His  coming  was  a  "  blessed 


124  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

hope."  To  Caiapbas,  if  he  had  believed  the 
word,  it  would  have  been  an  unutterable  dread. 
What  is  it  to  you  ?  Can  you,  dare  you  say  with 
John,  in  answer  to  the  Lord's,  *'I  come  quickly," 
*'  Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus  !  "  ?  That  is  the 
last  prayer  in  the  Bible.  Is  it  yours  ?  If  not, 
then  with  true  repentance,  and  with  living 
faith,  give  yourself,  this  hour,  wholly  to  Him, 
that,  when  He  comes,  you  may  be  ready,  and 
filled  with  joy ! 

Prayer.  Dear  Lord,  let  me  never  see  that 
look  bent  on  me,  which  Thou  gavest  to  him 
who  had  denied  Thee  with  oaths  and  curses. 
Let  me  never  fail  to  hear  and  believe  Thy 
words,  "  I  am  He,"  when  they  asked  for  Jesus 
of  Nazareth ;  nor  that  *'  I  am  "  with  which  Thou 
didst  claim  to  be  the  very  Son  of  God !  Teach 
me  to  trust,  more  than  I  trust  all  else.  Thy  tes- 
timony to  Thyself;  and  O  Lord  Jesus,  when 
Thou  comest,  in  Thy  majesty  and  glory,  may  I 
behold  Thee  with  confidence  and  gladness,  and 
be  caught  up  to  meet  Thee  and  to  be  forever 
with  the  Lord  I     Amen. 


Monday  after  Laetare,  which  is  the  Fourth 
Sunday  in  Lent 

Now  Simon  Peter  was  standing  and  warming  himself. 
Then  another  inaid  saw  hira,  and  saith  unto  them  that 
were  there,  This  man  also  was  with  Jesus  the  Xazarene. 
They  said  therefore  unto  him,  Art  thou  also  one  of  his  dis- 
ciples ?  And  again  he  denied  with  an  oath,  I  know  not  the 
man.  And  after  a  little  while  they  that  stood  by  came  and 
said  to  Peter,  Of  a  truth  thou  also  art  one  of  them  ;  for  thy 
speech  betrayeth  thee.  And  one  of  the  servants  of  the  high 
priest,  being  a  kinsman  of  him  whose  ear  Peter  cut  off, 
saith,  Did  not  I  see  thee  in  the  garden  with  him  ?  Of  a 
truth  thou  art  also  one  of  them  :  for  thy  speech  betrayeth 
thee  :  for  thou  art  a  Galilaean.  But  he  began  to  curse  and 
to  swear,  I  know  not  this  man  of  whom  ye  speak.  And 
straightway  the  cock  crew.  And  the  Lord  turned,  and 
looked  upon  Peter.  And  Peter  remembered  the  word 
which  Jesus  had  said,  Before  the  cock  crow,  thou  shalt 
deny  me  thrice.     And  he  went  out  and  wept  bitterly. 

Increase  of  Grief,  The  sufferings  of  Jesus 
and  the  depth  of  His  humilation  were  the  more 
increased  by  the  denials  and  oaths  of  that  dis- 
ciple who  had  seemed  foremost  in  faith  and  in 
fervor.  Though  the  Master  knew  what  was 
coming,  this  did  not  lessen  His  grief  on  hearing 
His  friendship  made  naught,  and  His  very 
Name  denied  with  curses.  Peter  had  forgotten 
the  special  love  and  care  which  the  Lord  had 
manifested  in  warning  Him,  and  in  praying  for 
125 


126  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Him,  so  that  the  cock's  crow  was  unnoticed 
the  first  time,  and  its  reminder  unheeded.  How 
earnestly  the  Master  had  sought  to  caution 
both  the  traitor  and  the  denier  !  The  foretell- 
ing of  the  deeds  they  were  about  to  do  was  in- 
tended, and  should  have  served,  to  guard  these 
men  against  the  commission  of  such  acts.  The 
individual  care  of  Jesus,  and  the  liigh  estimate 
He  puts  upon  tlie  single  soul,  is  strongly  shown 
in  this,  that  He  used  prophecy,  and  gave  sucli 
watchful  and  loving  oversight  to  save  Peter 
from  his  fall.  Such  is  the  worth  of  a  poor 
human  soul,  that  in  the  midst  of  His  own  sor- 
rows, and  at  the  time  of  these  events  of  eternal 
import,  He  turns  aside,  first,  to  caution,  then 
to  watch,  and  then  to  remind  His  child,  in  the 
sin  and  peril  of  that  fall  I 

He  looked  on  Peter,  A  volume  of  meaning 
was  conveyed  by  that  look.  Much  of  reproof, 
of  reminder,  and  of  sorrow,  did  it  reveal  to  him 
upon  whom  it  was  bent.  It  carried  the  poor 
sinner,  who  had  so  weaklj^  denied  his  Lord, 
back  to  the  upper  room,  and  he  heard  again  the 
tender  wdrds  spoken  to  forewarn  him.  In  an 
instant  it  drove  away  all  his  cowardly  fears  b}^ 
arousing  that  nobler  fear  of  self  and  of  his  awful 
guilt.  It  caused  him  to  see  the  great  black 
gulf  of  seemingly  hopeless  condemnation,  into 
which  he  had  fallen.  There  was  never  such 
another  look  of  wounded  love,  nor  one  so  pene- 


Monday  after  Laetare  127 

trating  into  the  heart's  depths  of  its  object,  nor 
so  eloquent  of  reproof  of  sin  ! 

1.  Easy  is  the  descent  into  sin.  First,  Peter 
follows  afar  off.  Then  he  answers  the  question 
of  the  doorkeeper,  a  certain  maid,  and  says,  "  I 
know  him  not."  Now  another  maid  asks  him, 
and  he  reiterates  the  lie,  swearing  to  make  it 
stronger.  Then  meyi  accuse  him  of  having  been 
with  Jesus.  A  friend  of  the  man  whose  ear  he 
had  cut  off  undertakes  to  identify  him  ;  and 
the  poor,  trembling  disciple,  who  had  been 
frightened  by  the  maidservant's  careless  ques- 
tion, sees  difficulty  and  danger  thickening  about 
him,  and  can  devise  no  escape  save  by  greater 
falsehood  and  more  vehement  oaths.  Then  the 
cock  crowed  for  the  second  time  ! 

2.  Sin  is  never  solitary.  Peter's  unbelief, 
like  that  of  all  the  disciples,  was  a  sin.  The 
forgetfulness  and  distrust  of  the  words  in 
which  the  Lord  had  foretold  all  that  followed, 
was  the  root-sin.  His  fear,  arising  from  this 
unbelief,  was  sinful,  and  that  led  to  the  first 
lie,  which  was  not  only  a  lie,  but  also  an  act  of 
cowardice,  a  denial  of  his  best  friend,  an  insult 
to  Jesus,  and  a  shame  to  his  own  soul.  Then 
comes  the  added  sin  of  perjury,  of  swearing  to 
a  lie,  and  taking  God's  Name  in  vain,  and  of 
cursing,  wishing  woe  and  uttering  imprecations 
upon  those  who  were  accusing  him.     All  this 


128  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

brood  of  sms  and  vices  grew  one  out  of  an- 
other. Who  would  have  thought  it  of  Peter  ? 
None  less  than  Peter  himself.  Beware  of  sin, 
if  for  no  other  reason,  because  you  cannot 
know  where  it  will  end. 

Prayer,  O  Lord,  give  me  a  deadly  fear  of 
sin.  If  he  who  was  so  strong  and  zealous, 
could  fall  like  this,  what  strength  have  I  with 
which  to  meet  the  same  foe  ?  Oh,  let  me  not, 
like  him,  be  driven  far  from  Thee  I  Thou  art 
able  to  keep  and  to  bless  me.  Let  me  never 
grieve  Thee  by  denial  of  Thyself,  or  of  Thy 
Spirit,  whether  in  thought  or  word  or  deed. 
Keep  me  from  trust  of  self,  for  I  am  weak  and 
helpless.  And  in  Thy  love  and  mercy,  endow 
me  with  the  salvation  which  Thou  hast  ob- 
tained for  me  at  cost  of  grief  and  loneliness. 
Amen, 


Tuesday  after  Laetare 

And  the  men  that  held  Jesus  mocked  him,  and  beat  him, 
and  they  did  spit  in  his  face  and  buffet  him.  And  they 
blindfolded  him,  and  asked  him,  saying,  Prophesy  unto  us, 
thou  Christ :  who  is  he  that  struck  thee  ?  And  many  other 
things  spake  they  against  him,  reviling  him.  And  the 
officers  received  him  with  blows  of  their  hands. 

Now  when  morning  was  come,  all  the  chief  priests  and 
the  elders  of  the  people  took  counsel  against  Jesus  to  put 
him  to  death.  And  the  whole  company  of  them  rose  up, 
and  brought  him  before  Pilate.     And  it  was  early. 

Then  Judas,  who  betrayed  him,  when  he  saw  that  he  was 
condemned  to  death,  repented  himself,  and  brought  back 
the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  to  the  chief  priests  and  elders, 
saying,  I  have  sinned  in  that  I  betrayed  innocent  blood. 
But  they  said.  What  is  that  to  us  ?  see  thou  to  it.  And  he 
cast  down  the  pieces  of  silver  into  the  sanctuary,  and  de- 
parted ;  and  he  went  away  and  hanged  himself.  And  the 
chief  priests  took  the  pieces  of  silver,  and  said.  It  is  not 
lawful  to  put  them  into  the  treasury,  since  it  is  the  price  of 
blood.  And  they  took  counsel,  and  bought  with  them  the 
potter's  field,  to  bury  strangers  in.  Wherefore  that  field 
was  called.  The  field  of  blood,  unto  this  day.  Then  was 
fulfilled  that  which  was  spoken  through  Jeremiah  the 
prophet,  saying.  And  they  took  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver, 
the  price  of  him  that  was  priced,  whom  certain  of  the  chil<> 
dren  of  Israel  did  price ;  and  they  gave  them  for  the  pot- 
ter's field,  as  the  Lord  appointed  me. 

Mockery.     Most  men  dread  and  dislike  ridi- 
cule more  than  real  pain.     In  order  that  Jesus 
might   taste  every  sort  of  pain  and  indignity, 
He    must    also   endure   this.     The   Prince   of 
129 


130  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Heaven  as  the  sport  of  rude  servants  is  a 
spectacle  for  angels  to  weep  over.  They 
mocked  Him,  they  spat  in  His  face,  tliey  struck 
Him  with  their  fists,  and  SDiote  Him  upon  the 
face ;  then  blindfolded  Him  and  asked  that  He 
prophesy  who  it  was  that  struck  Him.  And 
they  spoke  many  things  against  Him,  reviling. 
Royal  sport,  indeed,  for  these  coarse-souled 
wretches !  To  spit  upon  purity,  innocence, 
love,  and  self-sacrifice, — to  find  delight  in  tor- 
turing One  who  was  so  good  and  great  and 
blessed, — this  is  fit  occupation  for  the  most 
brutal.  We  find  new  proof  of  the  degrading 
power  of  sin,  in  this  shamefid  exhibition.  If 
there  had  been  no  Devil,  this  scene  could  never 
have  taken  place. 

Next  comes  another  trial.  The  formal  sen- 
tence, according  to  Jewish  law,  could  be  pro- 
nounced only  by  day.  So  the  whole  Sanhedrin 
was  assembled  at  dawn,  and  the  blessed  Lord 
was  thither  haled,  to  have  the  sentence  already 
pronounced  upon  Him  legalized.  They  have 
no  idea  of  investigating  His  cause,  but  simply 
of  making  His  condemnation  formal.  So  they 
ask  again  whether  He  is  the  Christ.  As  He 
has  done  before,  so  now  He  protests  against 
their  prejudice  and  unbelief,  showing  how 
thoroughly  He  understands  them  and  their 
purpose;  but  reiterates  His  claims  to  divine 
majesty,  asserting  what  no  mere  man,  what  no 


Tuesday  after  Laetare  131 

one  but  Gocl,  could  assert  without  blasphemy, 
tliat  from  henceforth  He  shall  be  seated  at  the 
riglit  hand  of  the  power  of  God.  He  also  de- 
clares again  that  He  is  the  Son  of  God ;  and 
tlien,  for  the  second  time,  they  condemn  Him. 
At  last, — for  their  utmost  was  done,  and  their 
power  reached  no  further, — they  bound  Him 
and  led  Him  to  Pilate,  the  Roman  Governor. 

So  far,  among  His  own  people,  the  Lord  has 
witnessed  a  good  confession.  They  have  not 
been  able  to  intimidate  Him.  Before  their 
very  rulers  He  has  proclaimed  His  mission 
and  His  being.  "  His  own "  have  rejected 
Him,  and  delivered  Him  for  death  to  the  power 
which,  for  their  sins,  had  enslaved  them.  They 
must  depend  on  the  Roman  government,  which 
they  hate,  to  perform  their  desire.  To  crush 
this  Man,  they  will  stoop  to  make  use  of  any 
instrument. 

Let  us  learn  some  lessons  from  the  fate  of 
Judas,  as  written  in  the  lesson  for  the  day. 

1.  Sin  goes  much  further  than  the  sinner 
expects.  The  awful  dream  of  Judas  is  over, 
and  gives  place  to  a  more  awful  awakening. 
The  night  he  had  spent  has  no  description,  but  He 
had,  evidently,  kept  himself  informed  of  every 
step  in  the  unfolding  of  the  plot  of  the  enemies 
of  Jesus,  and  now,  in  the  early  morning,  he 
learns  that  the  sentence  is  death.     Strangely 


132  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

enough,  it  seems  he  had  not  expected  this. 
And  as  he  shrinks  in  horror  from  contemplat- 
ing himself  as  the  murderer  of  the  One  who  had 
been  ever  so  good  and  true  to  him,  heart  and 
brain  together  reel ;  he  sees  no  doom  too  hor- 
rible for  himself.  Ah !  if  we  could  stop  the  in- 
fluences of  our  sin  when  we  would,  it  would 
all  not  be  so  fearful ;  but  though  it  was  easy 
for  Judas  to  betray  his  Lord,  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  undo  the  hideous  deed.  Who  can 
say  what  memories  thronged  his  brain  ? — recol- 
lections of  the  first  days  of  companionship  with 
Jesus  ;  of  the  times  of  his  own  innocence  of  any 
evil  thought  or  intention  against  Him  ;  of  bright 
hours  that  now  only  made  his  sin  the  blacker. 
The  fate  that  he  now  saw  so  surely  impending 
over  the  Master  filled  him  with  madness.  But 
it  was  too  late.  He  found  no  place  for  re- 
pentance, only  for  relentless  remorse.  Too 
late  !     Too  late  ! 

2.  Sin's  punishment  lies  partly  in  this,  that 
its  rewards  lose  all  their  value.  What  had  he 
from  this,  irremediable  crime  ?  The  thirty 
pieces  of  silver  !  Comfort  3^ourself  with  them, 
Judas.  They  are  as  bright,  and  clink  as 
merrily,  and  can  purchase  as  much,  as  when 
you  received  them.  Ah!  as  he  looks  at  them, 
they  are  red  with  blood,  they  cannot  purchase 
peace  of  conscience,  they  cannot  buy  back  his 
innocence,  they  cannot  redeem   that   life   for 


Tuesday  after  Laetare  133 

which  they  were  paid !  And  so  will  every  man 
who  sells  his  soul  through  greed  of  gain,  come 
to  the  hour  when  the  gold  that  was  so  glitter- 
ing, shall  lose  its  glamour.  Judas  cannot  keep 
his  silver.  Before  the  men  who  gave  it  to  him, 
he  hurls  it  down.  But  that  helps  nothing. 
Too  late,  too  late  I 

3.  The  tempter  has  neither  help  nor  sym- 
pathy for  the  lost  soul  he  has  ruined.  Like  a 
wail  from  the  pit,  sound  the  despairing  words 
the  traitor  speaks  in  the  ears  of  the  high 
priests  and  elders  :  "  I  have  betrayed  innocent 
blood  !  "  Does  he  imagine  that  his  testimony 
will  lead  them  to  deliver  the  Innocent  One  ? 
They  knew  His  innocence  as  well  as  Judas. 
Will  it  impress  them  with  pity  for  him,  the 
traitor,  when  they  had  no  pity  for  his 
Lord?  Vain  hope  !  Cold  and  impassive,  they 
throw  back  on  him  his  own  responsibility : 
"  What  is  that  to  us  ?  See  thou  to  that !  " 
What  is  it  to  him  who  leads  you  astray,  that 
life  is  blighted,  and  home  is  ruined,  and  hope 
for  here  and  for  hereafter  is  destroyed  ?  "  See 
thou  to  that!"  What  does  the  gambler  care  for 
his  victim ;  the  drunkard  maker  for  ruined 
manliood  ;  the  rake  for  the  woman  he  has  de- 
spoiled? Look  for  sj^mpathy  from  Satan,  and 
when  you  have  found  it  hell  will  have  been 
abolished.  Those  who  have  led  him  to  his  fall, 
care  naught  for  the  despair  of  the  lost  one.    So 


134  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Judas  had  no  friend  on  earth,  no  friend  in 
Heaven,  and  there  are  no  friends  in  helL 
Judas  can  no  longer  endure  to  live  on  earth, 
and  he  makes  the  awful  leap.  *'  He  went  to 
his  own  place."  A  lost  soul,  a  ruined  life, — no 
help  for  the  evil  he  has  done,  no  hope  for  him. 
Too  late  !  Too  late  !  Oh,  the  awfulness  of  sin  ! 
Once  done,  it  is  too  late  for  any  one  save  God  to 
reach  and  hinder  it. 

4.  Look  hack  from  this  end,  to  the  begin- 
ning. Once  this  desperate  suicide  was  a  smil- 
ing babe.  Hate  sin,  since  it  can  so  ruin  and 
degrade  a  human  creature  !  It  may  have  been 
lack  of  mother's  love,  or  father's  oversight  that 
allowed  the  seeds  of  avarice  and  covetousness 
to  take  such  root  in  the  heart  of  this  man  that 
even  the  presence  and  words  of  Jesus  could  not 
uproot  the  deadly  weeds.  What  care  and 
prayer  have  you  and  I  to  exercise,  lest  the 
little  ones  of  our  homes  come  to  the  same  eter- 
nal doom  as  Judas  !  Life  is  so  deep  and  strange 
a  mystery,  how  dare  we  live  it  apart  from  God? 
Let  Him  in  Holy  Baptism  take  and  seal  our 
children,  and  let  us  in  godly  home-life  and  by 
prayerful  oversight,  through  God's  appointed 
way,  entrust  them  to  His  keeping,  where  only 
they  are  safe.  Fear  sin,  hate  sin,  oppose  sin, 
until  He  shall  come  and  complete  His  work 
who  was  manifested  to  destroy  the  works  of  the 
devil.  (1  John  3  :  8.) 


Tuesday  after  Laetare  135 

Prayer.  O  Christ,  we  are  afraid.  Our  enemy 
is  so  strong,  we  are  so  weak.  We  shudder  with 
horror  as  we  gaze  at  this  awful  abyss  of  shame, 
and  realize  that  all  sin  is  alike,  its  end  so  terri- 
ble. Defend  us !  Enwrap  us  in  Thy  love  and 
care.  Keep  us  for  we  cannot  keep  ourselves. 
And  let  us  fear  nothing  with  such  abhorrence 
as  the  least  slavery  to  sin.  Deliver  us,  O  Thou 
who  hast  died  for  us  !     Amen, 


Wednesday  after  Laetare 

But  the  Jews  entered  not  into  the  Prsetorium,  that  they 
might  not  be  defiled,  but  might  eat  the  passover.  Pilate 
therefore  went  out  unto  them,  and  saith,  What  accusation 
bring  ye  against  this  man  ?  They  answered  and  said  unto 
him,  If  this  man  were  not  an  evil-doer,  we  should  not  have 
delivered  him  up  unto  thee.  Pilate  therefore  said  unto 
them,  Take  him  yourselves,  and  judge  him  according  to  your 
law.  The  Jews  said  unto  him,  It  is  not  lawful  for  us  to 
put  any  man  to  death  :  that  the  word  of  Jesus  might  be  ful- 
filled, which  he  spake,  signifying  by  what  manner  of  death 
he  should  die.  And  they  began  to  accuse  him,  saying,  We 
found  this  man  perverting  our  nation,  and  forbidding  to 
give  tribute  to  Caesar,  and  saying  that  he  himself  is  Christ 
a  king. 

Pilate  therefore  entered  again  into  the  Praetorium,  and 
called  Jesus,  and  said  unto  him,  Art  thou  the  King  of  the 
Jews?  Jesus  answered,  Sayest  thou  this  of  thyself,  or  did 
others  tell  it  thee  concerning  me?  Pilate  answered,  Am  I  a 
Jew  ?  Thine  own  nation  and  the  chief  priests  delivered 
thee  unto  me :  what  hast  thou  done  ?  Jesus  answered,  My 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world  :  if  my  kingdom  were  of  this 
■world,  then  would  my  servants  fight,  that  I  should  not  be 
delivered  to  the  Jews :  but  now  is  my  kingdom  not  from 
hence.  Pilate  therefore  said  unto  him,  Art  thou  a  king 
then  ?  Jesus  answered,  Thou  sayest  it,  for  I  am  a  king.  To 
this  end  have  I  been  born,  and  to  this  end  am  I  come  into 
the  world,  that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the  truth. 
Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth  heareth  my  voice.  Pilate 
saith  unto  him.  What  is  truth  ? 

And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  went  out  again  unto  the 
Jews,  and  saith  unto  them,  I  find  no  crime  in  him. 
136 


Wednesday  after  Laetare  137 

The  New  Charge.  "What  accusation  bring 
ye  against  this  man?"  We  have  reached  an- 
other stage  in  His  journey.  He  is  now  before 
.a  Roman  judge,  one  not  in  sympathy  with  His 
accusers,  and  far  from  being  their  willing  tool. 
,What  answer  will  they  make  to  the  question? 
— for,  assuredly,  He  has  broken  no  law  of  God 
or  of  the  Roman  Empire.  Yet  some  answer 
has  to  be  made.  They  will,  boldly,  seek  to 
coerce  Pilate  by  their  unsustained  assertion. 
*•  If  He  were  not  an  evil-doer,  we  would  not 
have  delivered  Him  up  unto  thee."  But  this 
affords  the  Roman  an  easy  way  out  of  the  diffi- 
culty. *'  Take  Him  yourselves,  then,  if  it  is 
some  question  of  which  our  law  takes  no  cogni- 
zance, and  judge  Him  by  your  law  !  "  But  the 
true  animus  now  appears,  and  they  make  re- 
sponse :  *'  It  is  not  lawful  for  us  to  put  any 
man  to  death."  He  had  already  foretold,  in 
prophesying  His  own  death,  a  fate  which  seemed 
improbable;  that  He  should  be  crucified.  That 
was  the  Roman  mode  of  execution.  The  Jews, 
when  they  had  inflicted  the  death  penalty,  had 
used  stoning.  The  narrator  of  the  story  care- 
fully notes  the  exactness  of  the  Master's  knowl- 
edge of  the  event  before  the  time ! — But  to  re- 
turn. Some  accusation  is  necessary  to  lead  Pi- 
late to  pronounce  judgment  on  Him,  and  it 
must  be  one  that  shall  have  some  weight  with 
a   Roman  tribunal;    so   they   lay   the    charge 


138  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

against  Him  of  perverting  the  nation,  and  for- 
bidding to  give  tribute  to  Caesar,  basing  the 
slander  on  the  specious  statement  that  He  called 
Himself  Christ,  which  to  their  false  conception 
of  the  office  of  the  Messiah,  meant  king. 

Pilate  and  Jesus.  So  Pilate  questions  Him. 
*'Art  thou  king  of  the  Jews?"  Perhaps  the 
prisoner  will  incriminate  Himself.  No ;  all  that 
He  speaks  of  is  a  strange  kingdom  not  of  this 
world,  in  which  the  citizens  seek  no  victory 
with  the  sword,  in  which  the  kingliest  office  is 
to  bear  witness  of  the  truth. 

A  strange  scene  !  This  earnest  soul  offering, 
even  to  the  skeptical  and  superficial  Roman,  a 
glimpse  of  salvation.  He  does  not  disdain  to 
declare  His  mission  and  His  kingship  to  such 
an  auditor, — bearing  witness  in  the  judgment 
hall  of  the  Caesars,  as  He  had  borne  it  in  the 
palace  of  the  high  priest  and  in  the  temple,  and 
wherever  He  might  meet  a  human  soul.  There 
is  no  response  in  the  breast  of  this  hearer.  The 
Divine  Martyr  has  had  to  withstand  the  dull- 
ness of  disciples,  and  the  bitter  hatred  of  an- 
tagonistic hearers, — now  He  must  meet  the 
sneer  of  skepticism.  It  is  all  very  harmless, 
thinks  Pilate  ; — incapable  as  He  was  of  under- 
standing and  reverencing  the  kingly  soul  be- 
fore Him ; — merely  an  amiable  fanaticism.  This 
is  not  the  sort  of  king  that  Ca3sar  need  fear. 
But  it  is  very  foolish  I     The  man  is  weak,  per- 


Wednesday  after  Laetare  139 

haps  a  strong  rebuke  may  help  Him.  "  What 
is  truth?"  he  scornfully  asks;  reflecting  the 
fashionable  philosophy  of  his  day,  which  held 
that  nothing  is  true,  and  that  search  for  truth 
is  fruitless.  So  speaking,  he  turns  away.  He 
has  no  time  for  such  foolery.  But  he  goes 
back  to  the  accusers  and  declares  that  their  ac- 
cusation is  not  sustained.  "  I  find  no  crime  in 
Him." 

1.  Notice,  in  this  passage,  a  characteristic 
of  a  formal  reliyiousness.  These  men  are  dain- 
tily scrupulous  not  to  defile  themselves  accord- 
ing to  the  outward  precepts  of  their  law,  while 
lying  and  murder  are  staining  their  guilty  souls. 
They  could  not  put  Judas'  rejected  silver  in 
the  treasury,  it  was  not  lawful.  Did  it  not  oc- 
cur to  these  religious  teachers  that  it  was  not 
lawful  to  pay  it  out,  not  lawful  to  purchase 
treachery  and  to  make  a  prisoner  of  a  guiltless 
man  ?  That  seemed  a  trifle  to  them.  And 
here,  murderous  and  perjured,  they  will  not 
enter  the  judgment  hall  of  Gentiles,  lest  tliey 
be  defiled, — they,  whose  filthy  hearts  were  al- 
ready utterly  hateful  to  Him  whom  they  pre- 
tended to  serve.  Jesus  had  characterized  them 
already, — **  Straining  at  a  gnat  and  swallowing 
a  camel."  How  false  they  were!  Accusing 
Him  of  perverting  the  people,  raising  a  rebel- 
lion, forbidding  tribute ;  while  if  He  had  really 


140  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

done  those  things,  the}^  vile  hypocrites,  would 
have  applauded  and  assisted.  He  did  not  do 
them,  so  now  with  craven  spirits  they  drag 
Him  hefore  the  tribunal  they  detest,  and  seek 
to  boast  of  their  loyalty  in  taking  His  life.  Yet 
never  for  a  moment  did  they  forget  their  cere- 
monial religionism ! 

This  is  characteristic  of  false  religions — of  all 
heathendom.  It  is  characteristic  of  Rome.  Per- 
secution and  all  villainy  are  not  sinful,  but  the 
mumbling  of  "Ave  Marias  "  and  the  paying  of 
penance  dare  not  be  omitted.  It  is  character- 
istic of  the  human  heart.  You  will  not  omit 
your  saying  of  prayers,  your  presence  at  service, 
your  outward  compliances ;  yet  you  defraud,  or 
you  give  place  to  greed  in  your  heart,  or  you 
make  little  of  true  trust  and  love  and  fear  of 
God,  offering  Him  instead  your  empty  formal- 
ism. If  that  is  you,  you  are  of  the  same  family 
with  these  hypocrites  before  Pilate — and  unless 
you  repent  you  will  spend  eternity  with  them. 

2.  Are  you  a  citizen  of  this  King?  Does 
your  heart  hear  His  voice  ?  Do  you  love  the 
truth,  love  not  only  to  know  it,  but  to  live  it? 
Is  He  King  to  you,  and  do  you  serve  Him  in 
this  kingdom?  Have  you  learned  the  answer  to 
Pilate's  question  ?  Do  you  know  Him  as  the 
Truth,  and  are  you  lovingly  loyal  to  Him  in 
the  truth?  Are  you  of  the  truth?  Oh,  the 
answer   means  so  much!     He  wants  not  lip- 


Wednesday  after  Laetare  141 

loyalty,  but  a  heart  filled  with  the  truth,  and  a 
life  that  bears  witness  to  the  truth.  Are  yours 
like  that  ? 

3.  What  an  awful  thing  it  is  to  have,  within 
you,  no  response  to  spiritual  things.  Here  is  the 
explanation  of  skepticism.  It  is  the  deadening 
of  spiritual  receptivity,  which  has  progressed 
until,  at  last,  the  truth  may  stand  before  the 
skeptic,  and  not  a  chord  in  his  soul  respond. 
As  well  sing  oratorios  to  a  deaf  man,  or  show 
museums  of  art  to  the  blind,  as  to  expect  Pilate, 
and  those  like  him,  to  appreciate  and  reverence 
the  Christ  of  God.  A  soul  dead  to  the  highest 
things — God  keep  us  from  this  fate  I 

Prayer.  O  Lord,  our  souls  are  hot  with  in- 
dignant sympathy  for  Thee, — tried,  persecuted, 
belied,  despised  with  the  cool  scoffing  of  igno- 
rance. Let  our  fervor  turn  to  love  and  make  us 
earnest,  faithful  subjects  of  the  truth.  Forbid 
that  we  should  miss  the  deepest,  tenderest  fel- 
lowship with  all  that  is  true  and  exalted,  even 
with  Thyself.  Bind  us  ever  closer  to  Thee 
through  the  sufferings  Thou  didst  endure  for 
us.     Amen, 


Thursday  after  Laetare 

And  the  chief  priests  accused  him  of  many  things.  And 
Pilate  again  asked  him,  saying,  Auswerest  thou  nothing? 
behold  how  many  things  they  accuse  thee  of.  But  Jesus 
no  more  answered  anything;  insomuch  that  Pilate  mar- 
velled greatly. 

And  Pilate  said  unto  the  chief  priests  and  the  multitudes, 
I  find  no  fault  in  this  man.  But  they  were  the  more  ur- 
gent, saying,  He  stirreth  up  the  people,  teaching  throughout 
all  Judfiea,  and  beginning  from  Galilee  even  unto  this 
place.  But  when  Pilate  heard  it,  he  asked  whether  the 
man  were  a  Galilean.  And  when  he  knew  that  he  was  of 
Herod's  jurisdiction,  he  sent  him  unto  Herod,  who  himself 
also  was  at  Jerusalem  in  these  days. 

Now  when  Herod  saw  Jesus,  he  was  exceeding  glad  :  for 
he  was  of  a  long  time  desirous  to  see  him,  because  he  had 
heard  concerning  him ;  and  he  hoped  to  see  some  miracle 
done  by  him.  And  he  questioned  him  in  many  words; 
but  he  answered  him  nothing.  And  the  chief  priests  and 
the  scribes  stood,  vehemently  accusing  him.  And  Herod 
with  his  soldiers  set  him  at  nought,  and  mocked  him,  and 
arraying  him  in  gorgeous  apparel  sent  him  back  to  Pilate. 
And  Herod  and  Pilate  became  friends  with  each  other  that 
very  day :  for  before  they  were  at  enmity  between  them- 
selves. 

And  Pilate  called  together  the  chief  priests  and  the  rulers 
and  the  people  and  said  unto  them,  Ye  brought  unto  me 
this  man,  as  one  that  perverteth  the  people ;  and  behold, 
I,  having  examined  him  before  you,  find  no  fault  in  this 
man  touching  those  things  whereof  ye  accuse  him  ;  no,  nor 
yet  Herod:  for  he  sent  him  back  unto  us;  and  behold, 
nothing  worthy  of  death  hath  been  done  by  him.  I  will 
therefore  chastise  him,  and  release  him. 
142 


Thursday  after  Laetare  143 

The  Galilean  Prisoner.  How  long  the  time  of 
scofiSng  and  mockery  seems  to  last !  Bitterly 
do  His  foes  charge  evil  things  upon  Him.  His 
silence  amazes  Pilate.  But  why  should  He  re- 
ply until  some  wrong  is  charged  against  Him 
from  which  defense  is  needed?  What  evil  has 
He  done?  A  new  indictment  is  alleged,  more 
earnestly.  "  He  stirreth  the  people  up,  teach- 
ing throughout  all  Judaea  and  beginning  from 
Galilee  even  unto  this  place  ! "  Pilate  catches 
at  the  word  *'  Galilee."  A  new  humiliation  for 
the  Master  is  in  sight.  H  He  is  a  Galilean, 
Pilate  may  make  use  of  Him.  Herod  and 
Pilate  have  been  alienated.  Why  shall  not  the 
Roman  at  the  same  time  get  rid  of  a  very 
troublesome  case,  and  offer  a  delicate  compli- 
ment to  the  Galilean  King?  That  it  is  a  fresh 
indignity  and  an  injustice  to  the  meek  and 
silent  prisoner,  whom .  He  has  already  twice 
pronounced  innocent  of  any  crime,  is  no  reason 
to  hesitate.  So,  as  a  peace-offering,  he  submits 
to  Herod  the  decision  of  the  cause  between  the 
Jews  and  Jesus. 

Tlie  Galilean  King.  Another  travesty  of  a 
trial !  Again  He  is  subjected  to  the  shame  of 
standing  before  a  judge  who  is  utterly  unfit  to 
exercise  the  office.  Here  Jesus  meets  a  man 
who  is  so  filled  with  empty  and  frivolous  curi- 
osity that  his  soul  is  incapable  of  receiving  a 
serious  impression,  and  the  Lord  casts  no  pearl 


144  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

of  truth  before  him.  To  Herod,  Jesus  is  no 
more  than  a  showman,  who  can  do  some  tricks 
by  which  he  expects  to  be  amused.  Very 
greatly  disappointed  is  he,  that  the  object  of 
his  curious  interest  treats  him  with  the  dignity 
of  disdain.  Then,  as  they  can  extract  no 
amusement  from  Him  in  any  other  way ;  since 
He  declines  to  become  a  mountebank  for  their 
entertainment,  and  since  the  chief  priests  and 
scribes,  vehemently  accusing  Him,  must  be  ap- 
peased, Herod  and  his  soldiers  conceive  the 
brilliant  idea  of  making  a  huge  joke  of  Jesus 
and  His  pretensions  :  so  they  mock  Him,  and 
set  Him  at  naught,  and  put  gorgeous  apparel 
on  Him  ;  then,  scoffing  and  jeering,  send  Him 
back  to  Pilate.  Try  to  conceive  of  what  all 
this  meant  to  the  soul  so  full  of  refinement,  so 
conscious  of  the  reverence  due  Him,  and  of  the 
blasphemy  they  were  committing  against  His 
Father ! 

Bach  to  Pilate.  Most  unjust  judge  !  Yet  he 
is  constrained  to  vindicate  the  Saviour.  Again 
he  testifies,  "  I  find  no  fault  in  this  man  touch- 
ing those  things  of  which  ye  accuse  Him.  No, 
nor  yet  Herod,  for  he  sent  Him  back  to  me,  and 
behold,  nothing  worthy  of  death  hath  been 
done  by  Him."  What  then,  Pilate ?  "I  will 
therefore  chastise  Him  and  release  Him."  Why 
chastise  Him,  if  He  hath  done  no  evil  ?  That 
"  therefore "   leads  to   a   lame   conclusion.     A 


Thursday  after  Laetare  145 

man  would  have  stood  to  the  simple  truth  and 
justice  of  the  thing.  *'  Innocent,  therefore  re- 
leased," should  have  been  the  verdict. 

1.  It  is  a  great  thing,  sometimes,  to  be  silent. 
So  many  men  injure  themselves  by  haste  to 
speak.  Notice  the  silence  of  Jesus.  How  elo- 
quent it  is  !  Plainly  it  tells  of  the  emptiness 
and  baselessness  of  their  accusations ;  of  His 
own  courage  and  confidence ;  of  the  innocence 
of  which  He  was  conscious.  Let  us  be  silent 
when  words  could  not  avail,  and  when  mere 
groundless  malice  seeks  to  hurt  us.  Let  us 
"  study  to  be  quiet."  Let  us  possess  ourselves 
in  silence,  even  when  occasion  is  given  for 
angry  and  indignant  speech.  Jesus  knew  when 
to  be  silent. 

2.  A  man  may  be  glad  to  see  Jesus^  and  yet 
gain  no  profit.  Herod  was  *'  exceedingly  glad  " 
when  he  saw  Jesns.  "  Of  a  long  time  he  was 
desirous  to  see  Him."  That  sounds  well  for 
Herod.  If  you  knew  no  more,  you  would  feel 
very  hopeful  for  the  probable  improvement  of 
Herod's  spiritual  condition.  But  stop ;  why 
did  he  want  to  see  Jesus  ?  "  He  hoped  to  see 
some  miracle  done  by  Him."  He  wanted  the 
Master  to  amuse  him  for  a  while.  How  many 
of  those  seeking  to  be  Christians  have  need  to 
ask  earnestly  the  question,  "Why  do  I  want  to 
see  Jesus?"     If  it  is   merely  for  the  sake  of 


146  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

custom  that  you  wish  your  child  to  be  baptized 
or  confirmed,  or  that  you  yourself  are  about  to 
take  the  solemn  vows  upon  you  ;  if  it  is  be- 
cause you  will  be  thought  of  more  highly,  or 
can  secure  more  easily  some  worldly  purpose, 
then  you  deserve  to  be  classed  with  Herod.  He 
wanted  Christ  to  entertain  him :  you  want  Him 
to  assist  you  in  securing  some  selfish  end.  He 
who,  for  his  soul's  good,  and  from  love  to  the 
loviug  Christ,  desires  to  see  Him,  will  see  Him 
unto  salvation.  To  all  others  He  will  answer 
nothing  until  that  last,  awful  day,  when  He 
will  answer  :     "  I  never  knew  you  !  " 

3.  A  pitiful  thing  is  a  coicard ;  a  man  that 
knows  riglit  and  does  wrong.  Here  is  Pilate, 
who  declares,  in  the  most  positive  way,  that 
this  prisoner  is  innocent,  yet  offers  to  scourge 
Him,  in  the  hope  that  he  will  afterward  be  al- 
lowed by  the  mob  to  release  Him.  Compro- 
mises, for  the  most  part,  are  born  of  cowardice. 
Pilate  could  have  had  no  self-respect  as  he 
made  this  proposition.  If  He  is  innocent,  you, 
as  the  judge,  are  bound  to  protect  Him,  and 
guarantee  Him  unhindered  liberty.  Now,  as 
then,  men  are  tempted  to  compromise  con- 
science, to  act  the  coward  and  the  traitor  to 
trutli,  for  fear  of  offending  those  on  \vhom  they 
are  supposed  to  be  dependent.  Yet  it  is  hard 
to  see  how  any  man  can  look  on  this  Roman 
weakling  and  afterward  play  the  craven. 


Thursday  after  Laetare  147 

Prayer.  Lord  Jesus,  I  cannot  fully  enter 
into  Thy  sufferings,  but  my  heart  goes  out 
to  Thee.  What  wondrous  love  is  Thine ! 
What  wondrous  peace  and  patience  !  What 
long  endurance,  and  what  marvelous  drinking 
of  the  cup  !  Help  me  to  see  Thee  gladly,  be- 
cause Thou  art  my  soul's  hope.  Deliver  me 
from  fear  of  man,  and  make  me  steadfast  in 
the  way  of  truth  and  justice.  Help  me,  be- 
holding Thine  innocence,  and  Thy  suffering,  to 
trust  and  love  and  serve  Thee  fully.    Amen, 


Friday  After  Laetare 

Now  at  the  feast  the  governor  used  to  release  unto  them 
one  prisoner,  whom  they  asked  of  him.  And  there  was 
one  called  Barabbas,  lying  bound  with  them  that  had  made 
insurrection,  men  who  in  the  insurrection  had  committed 
murder.  And  the  multitude  went  up  and  began  to  ask 
him  to  do  as  he  was  wont  to  do  unto  them.  When  there- 
fore they  were  gathered  together,  Pilate  said  unto  them, 
Whom  will  ye  that  I  release  unto  you  ?  Barabbas,  or  Jesus 
who  is  called  Christ  ?  For  he  knew  that  for  envy  they 
bad  delivered  him  up. 

And  while  he  was  sitting  on  the  judgment  seat,  his  wife 
sent  unto  him,  saying,  Have  thou  nothing  to  do  with  that 
righteous  man  :  for  I  have  suffered  many  thfugs  this  day 
in  a  dream  because  of  him.  Now  the  chief  priests  and  the 
elders  persuaded  the  multitudes  that  they  should  ask  for 
Barabbas,  and  destroy  Jesus.  But  the  governor  answered 
and  said  unto  them.  Whether  of  the  twain  will  ye  that  I 
release  unto  you?  But  they  cried  out  all  together,  saying. 
Away  with  this  man,  and  release  unto  us  Barabbas. 

And  Pilate  spake  unto  them  again,  desiring  to  release 
Jesus  ;  and  saith  unto  them,  What  then  shall  I  do  unto 
Jesus  who  is  called  Christ,  whom  ye  call  the  King  of  the 
Jews  ?    They  all  say,  Let  him  be  crucified. 

And  he  said  unto  them  the  third  time.  Why,  what  evil 
hath  this  man  done?  I  have  found  no  cause  of  death  in 
him  :  I  will  therefore  chastise  him  and  release  him.  But 
they  were  urgent  with  loud  voices,  asking  that  he  might 
be  crucified.    And  their  voices  prevailed. 

A  BeeiicT  Shame.     Has  not  the  Divine  Suf- 
ferer already  felt  every  sort  of  shame  and  sor- 
sov/  that  could  be  felt?     Look  back  over  the 
148 


Friday  after  Laetare  149 

few  hours  since  the  exposure  of  Judas;  Geth- 
semane,  the  travesties  of  trial,  the  spittings 
and  smitings  and  rude  mockery  He  has  en- 
dured ; — is  there  anything  else  possible  ?  any 
new  variety  of  shameful  insult  for  Him  yet  to 
meet?  Oh,  yes,  He  has  already  laid  aside  His 
pride,  or  He  would  long  since  have  turned  back 
from  this  sorely  painful  pathway ;  there  is  yet 
greater  humbling  for  Him  to  undergo.  He 
must  stand  by,  and  see  the  heathen,  the  skep- 
tical, the  craven  governor  seek  to  save  His  life 
by  making  use  of  the  yearly  custom  to  set  one 
free :  He  has  to  see  this  man  plead  for  His  re- 
lease rather  than  for  that  of  one  who  was  leader 
of  an  uproar,  a  murderer  and  a  robber.  Oh, 
shameful  conjunction  of  names!  Barabbas  or 
Jesus  I  *'  Which  of  the  twain  shall  I  deliver 
unto  you?"  Surely  there  can  be  no  hesita- 
tion. Who  would  choose  that  a  robber  and 
murderer  should  be  freed,  and  that  such  a  spot- 
less One  as  Jesus  should  be  condemned?  Yet 
He  had  to  listen  to  the  mad  yell  of  the  rabble : 
"  Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas  !  "  '*  They  hated 
Him  without  a  cause."  "He  came  unto  His 
own  and  His  own  received  Him  not."  Depth 
of  humiliation,  to  be  pleaded  for  and  defended 
by  a  stranger,  a  Roman,  one  of  a  hated  race, 
and  yet  rejected  by  His  own.  Put  into  com- 
petition with  a  robber,  and  tlie  robber  chosen  I 
As  Pilate  asks;     "What,  then,  shall  I  do 


150  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

with  Jesus,  who  is  called  the  Christ  ?  "  for  the 
first  time  tliere  breaks  upon  the  startled  air, 
cutting  to  the  heart  of  Him  who  has  been 
bravely  and  calmly  awaiting  it,  that  awful, 
thrilling  cry,  "  Crucify  Him ! "  "  Crucify  Him ! " 
"Why?  what  evil  hath  he  done?"  again  asks 
the  governor,  who,  if  it  cost  him  nothing,  would 
fain  release  the  Lord.  *'I  find  no  cause  of 
death  in  Him."  And  they  cried,  so  much 
the  more,  "•  Crucify  Him  !  "  '^  Crucify  Him  !  " 
Truly  this  is  Satan's  day,  and  the  hour  of  dark- 
ness. Jews  calling  for  the  barbarous  torture  of 
the  Roman's  death  penalty  to  be  executed  on 
one  of  their  own  race  ! — the  purest  One,  the 
best  One,  the  God-Man,  the  promised  Messiah. 
Laugh,  hell  and  devils,  for  this  triumph  is 
yours. 

1.  The  awful  sinfulness  of  e^ivy.  Envy  is 
not  commonly  accounted  one  of  the  worst  of 
sins,  but  no  man  knows  what  sin  is,  until  he 
sees  what  it  grows  to,  when  unrestricted.  Here 
is  the  fruit  of  envy.  Pilate  was  right  in  his 
judgment  of  the  real  spirit  tliat  lay  behind  the 
malignant  persecution  of  our  Lord.  The  rise 
of  Jesus  meant  the  waning  of  the  influence  of 
these  corrupt  leaders  of  tlie  Jewish  people,  and 
they  knew  it.  Envy  ;  hideous,  ruthless,  hate- 
ful, deadly  envy,  filled  their  hearts.  Are  you 
envious  of  those  who  are  excelling  you?    Do 


Friday  after  Laetare  151 

you  feel  jealous  of  the  prosperity  or  popularity 
of  those  who  may,  by  overshadowing  you,  make 
you  seem  less  ?  Cut  it  out  of  your  heart,  if 
this  evil  is  there,  with  the  sharp  two-edged 
sword  of  God's  Word.  It  slew  the  Saviour. 
Full-grown,  as  we  see  it  in  this  narrative,  it 
means  plotting,  perjury,  murder.  It  is  a  form 
of  selfishness,  therefore  dig  at  its  root,  and  by 
God's  grace,  be  unselfish.  Recognize  the  poi- 
son, and  be  filled  with  God's  great  antidote, 
love,, — shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Be  not  of  one  mind  with  the  murder- 
ers of  the  Master. 

2.  WMcli  do  you  choose  ?  Ah,  you  say  you 
would  not  hesitate  a  moment  between  Jesus  and 
Barabbas.  But  there  is  many  another  Barab- 
bas.  Between  Jesus  and  ambition,  which  do 
you  choose  ?  Jesus  or  pleasure ;  Jesus  or 
riches;  Jesus  or  selfish  ease;  Jesus  or  self; 
which  do  you  choose?  Choose  Jesus,  Jesus 
always,  Jesus  only !  and  no  curse,  but  a  bless- 
ing, shall  follow  you  forever. 

3.  Here  is  a  foreshadowing  of  the  mecming 
of  His  death.  Barabbas  is  freed,  because  Jesus 
takes  his  place  and  goes  to  the  middle  cross, 
where  he  should  have  hung  between  the  two 
other  thieves.  Barabbas  in  the  place  of  the 
innocent  one,  Jesus  in  the  place  of  the  male- 
factor. A  happy  thing  it  was  for  Barabbas 
that  Jesus  was  there  to  be  crucified  instead  of 


152  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

him ;  a  liappy  thing  for  you  that  Jesus  was 
crucified  in  your  stead.  For  not  Barabbas 
alone,  but  every  sinner,  was  set  free  by  the 
death  of  Jesus,  on  that  terrible  cross.  This  is 
a  picture  of  redemption.  Jesus  takes  the  place 
due  to  me.  I  take  the  place  due  to  Him. 
Only  believe,  and  it  is  true  for  you. 

Praijer.  O  Christ,  the  woe  and  horror  and 
shame  increase  around  Thee.  Give  me  the 
sense  of  fellowship  with  Thee,  for  I  choose 
Thee  from  among  all  there  is  to  choose.  I  see 
Thee  only,  as  the  One  to  be  desired.  Thou 
hast  willingly  submitted  to  this  shame  and  woe 
for  me.  I  trust  Thee,  I  love  Thee,  and  I  live 
in  Thee.  Use  my  life  for  the  honor  of  Thy 
Name.     Amen, 


Saturday  after  Laetare 

Then  Pilate  therefore  took  Jesus,  and  scourged  him. 

Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor  took  Jesus  into  the 
Praetoriam,  and  gathered  unto  him  the  whole  band.  And 
they  stripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe.  And 
they  plaited  a  crown  of  thorns  and  put  it  upon  his  head, 
and  a  reed  in  his  right  hand;  and  they  kneeled  down  be- 
fore him,  and  mocked  him,  saying,  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews! 
And  they  spat  upon  him,  and  took  the  reed  and  smote  him 
on  the  head. 

Condemned!  The  voice  of  the  mob  had  pre- 
vailed over  the  voice  of  justice  and  truth.  No 
voice  of  manly  courage  had  been  raised.  Jesus 
hears  His  sentence,  and  must  bear  from  this 
time,  in  addition  to  the  pain  of  every  instant, 
the  apprehension  of  all  the  cruel  usages  and 
awful  agonies  that  lie  between  condemnation 
and  the  moment,  long  deferred  in  most  cases, 
of  the  blessed  release.  But  the  brave  heart 
knows  its  refuge  and  has  found  its  peace. 

First  comes  the  scourging.  Strip  the  pris- 
oner to  the  waist ;  bind  His  arms  about  a  pil- 
lar; find  the  most  brutal  of  these  hardened 
soldiers  ;  bring  the  scourge,  its  leather  thongs 
all  knotted  with  sharp-pointed  bits  of  steel  and 
lumps  of  lead.  Now,  lay  on  !  Once  !  Twice  I 
How  the  tortured  nerves  and  muscles  writhe 
and  twist,  while  our  stripes  are  laid  on  Him  I 
153 


154  'The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Look ;  see  how  the  streams  of  blood  are  trick- 
ling !  Again  and  again  the  fierce  strokes  fall 
upon  Him.  Can  you  bear  to  look?  How  long 
can  He  endure  this  torture  ?  Strong  men  some- 
times succumb  and  die  beneath  the  scourge,  and 
He  has  had  a  sleepless  night,  has  borne  the 
agony  in  the  garden,  the  shame  of  the  arrest, 
and  the  five  trials  before  as  many  tribunals. 
Will  He  sink  ?  The  barbarous  beating  still 
goes  on.  Oh,  how  can  He  bear  it  still  ?  It  is 
not  finished  yet  for  Him.  He  can  not  die  until 
the  cup  is  drained.  It  is  not  empty  yet. — At 
last — it  is  over  !  The  soldier  who  had  wielded 
the  hideous  implement  is  wearied  out.  Now, 
surely,  a  little  kindness  will  be  shown  Him. 
take  Him  to  some  couch,  and  spread  soft  cush- 
ions for  Him,  and  leave  Him  a  little  while,  that 
He  may  rest  to  gather  strength  for  the  way 
that  remains  to  be  trod.  No  !  No  !  there  is  no 
rest  for  Him,  Avho  bears  upon  His  bruised  heart 
the  sin  of  the  world.  These  soldiers  must  have 
their  sport.  Bring  Him  into  the  judgment  hall 
and  send  the  word  around.  This  is  a  joyous 
hour  for  these  coarse  souls  that  find  their  pleas- 
ure in  unmanly,  savage  jesting  with  the  miser- 
able ones  condemned  to  die.  And  this  one 
offers  peculiar  opportunities  for  merriment. 
Look  at  Him!  Does  He  seem  a  king?  Sen- 
tenced to  death,  tottering  with  weakness  as 
they  bring  Him  in,  stiff  with  the  hardening 


Saturday  after  Laetare  i^j" 

blood-clots  on  His  back,  does  He  look  a  King  ? 
That  is  what  He  claimed  to  be.  Caesar's  rival ! 
Is  He  not  an  imperial  figure  ?  Ha  !  Ha  !  Tear 
off  the  rest  of  His  garments.  Here,  throw  over 
Him  one  of  your  rough  purple  cloaks, — that  is 
near  enough  to  the  royal  color  to  suit  such  an 
emperor  as  this.  But  He  must  have  a  crown. 
Run  outside,  some  of  you,  pluck  one  of  the 
common  thorn  bushes  that  grow  around,  and 
with  3^our  thick-skinned  fingers,  plait  it  into  a 
crown ; — it  will  not  hurt  you,  but  what  sport 
it  will  be  to  press  it  down  upon  that  brow  of 
His,  which,  spite  of  all,  holds  such  strange  dig- 
nity upon  it !  Press  it  down.  Jupiter!  saw  you 
ever  the  blood-drops  spurt  and  trickle  so  from 
beneath  the  crown  of  the  emperor  ?  Ha  !  Ha  ! 
what  a  gladsome  game  this  is !  But  He  still 
lacks  something.  There  stands  a  reed  against 
the  wall.  Put  it  in  His  hand !  Now  He  is 
robed  and  crowned  and  sceptred.  Salute  Him, 
comrades!  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews!  Did  you 
ever  hear  such  shouts  of  laughter  ?  O  !  ye  gods, 
what  a  gay  hour  is  this !  But  He  does  not 
rave  and  rant  and  rebel  as  He  should  to  make 
the  joy  complete.  Smite  Him  upon  the  cheek! 
See  if  He  will  not  wince !  No?  Then,  here, 
see  how  He  likes  to  be  spat  on  !  That  bloody 
face  needs  washing.  Snatch  the  reed  from  His 
nerveless  hand,  and  bring  it  down  upon  His 
head !     The  crown  does  not  seem  to  fit  Him 


156  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

close  enough.  Drive  it  down  the  harder ! 
What  sport !  Ha !  Ha !  hail,  hail,  all  hail,  thou 
glorious  king !     King  of  the  Jews,  all  hail ! 

And  amidst  the  hell-like  laughter,  the  un- 
seemly insults,  oh,  fix  and  carry  the  picture 
forever  in  your  heart.  The  thorn-crowned 
King,  majestic  even  in  His  humiliation  !  All 
this  He  bears  for  you.  Oh,  ransomed  soul,  can 
you  forget  it  ? 

1.  Could  you  believe,  without  this  history, 
that  man  could  be  so  icretcliedly  dehased?  That 
is  sin.  Never  forget  the  picture.  This  that 
has  gone  before,  this  that  you  have  just  looked 
upon,  all  this  that  yet  must  follow,  is  sin. 
Hideous,  horrible,  it  is  sin.  And  will  you  love 
and  serve  it? 

2.  How  can  our  hearts  he  hard  enough  to  luit- 
ness  this  scene  unmoved?  You  who  weep  over 
the  tales  of  fiction,  will  you  not  weep  here  ? 
You  whose  hearts  are  stirred  with  indignation 
for  wrongs  far  less  than  these,  wdll  you  not  be 
indignant  for  Him  ?  And  shall  not  your  knees 
bend  in  sincerity  of  homage,  before  Him  to 
whom  those  knees  were  bowed  in  mockery? 
Shall  we  not,  with  loving  hands,  wipe  away 
the  blood  and  spittle,  and  with  tenderness  em- 
brace this  scorned  and  despised  Saviour?  Oh, 
hard  heart,  melt,  and  offer  Him  your  tribute  of 
devotion  I 


Saturday  after  Laetare  157 

Prayer,  Lord,  I  am  amazed  at  all  Thou 
barest  for  me.  As  a  sheep  before  his  shearers, 
Thou  wast  dumb.  I,  too,  am  dumb  before 
Thme  awful  agony.  What  shall  I  withhold 
from  Thee,  Who  barest  this  for  me  ?  Receive 
my  heart's  allegiance,  and  my  love.  Lord,  I 
will  never  scoff  at  Thee,  nor  scorn  Thee.  Let 
Thy  love  constrain  me  ever,  till  I  see  Thee  in 
Thy  glory  as  the  King  of  kings !     Ar^ien, 


Monday  after  Judica,  which  is  the  Fifth 
Sunday  in  Lent 

And  Pilate  weut  out  again,  and  saith  unto  them,  Behold, 
I  bring  him  out  to  you,  that  ye  may  know  that  I  find  no 
crime  in  him.  Jesus  therefore  came  out,  wearing  the 
crown  of  thorns  and  the  purple  garment.  And  Pilate  saith 
unto  them,  Behold,  the  man  !  When  therefore  the  chief 
priests  and  the  officers  saw  him,  they  cried  out,  saying, 
Crucify  hhn,  crucify  Jiim.  Pilate  saith  unto  them.  Take 
him  yourselves,  and  crucify  him  :  for  I  find  no  crime  in 
him.  The  Jews  answered  him,  We  have  a  law,  and  by 
that  law  he  ought  to  die,  because  he  made  himself  the  Son 
of  God.  When  Pilate  therefore  heard  this  saying,  he  was 
the  more  afraid ;  and  he  entered  into  the  Praetorium  again, 
and  saith  unto  Jesus,  Whence  art  thou?  But  Jesus  gave 
him  no  answer,  Pilate  therefore  saith  unto  him,  Speakest 
thou  not  unto  me  ?  knowest  thou  not  that  I  have  power  to 
release  thee,  and  have  power  to  crucify  thee?  Jesus  an- 
swered him.  Thou  wouldest  have  no  power  against  me,  ex- 
cept it  were  given  thee  from  above :  therefore  he  that  de- 
livered me  unto  thee  hath  greater  sin.  Upon  this  Pilate 
sought  to  release  him  :  but  the  Jews  cried  out,  saying,  If 
thou  release  this  man,  thou  art  not  Caesar's  friend:  every 
one  that  maketh  himself  a  king  speaketh  against  Caesar. 
When  Pilate  therefore  heard  these  words,  he  brought  Jesus 
ont,  and  sat  down  on  the  judgment  seat  at  a  place  called 
The  Pavement,  but  in  Hebrew,  Gabbatha.  Now  it  was  the 
Preparation  pf  the  passover :  it  was  about  the  sixth  hour. 
And  he  saith  unto  the  Jews,  Behold,  your  King!  They  there- 
fore cried  out,  Away  with  him,  away  with  him,  crucify 
him.  Pilate  saith  unto  them,  Shall  I  crucify  your  King? 
The  chief  priests  answered,  We  have  no  king  but  Caesar. 

Behold  the  Man  !     It  seems   strange  tliat  a 
Roman  governor,  and  such  a  character  as  Pilate, 
158 


Monday  after  Judica  159 

should  have  taken  so  much  trouble  as  he  actu- 
ally did  to  attempt  the  release  of  Jesus,  yet 
without  risk  to  himself.  Partly  it  must  be  at- 
tributed to  the  message  from  his  wife.  Partly 
also,  to  the  bearing  and  the  mysterious  in- 
fluence of  the  Saviour  Himself.  At  any  rate, 
touched  perhaps  in  his  finer  sensibilities  with 
the  aspect  of  the  Lord  after  the  terrible  ordeal 
described  in  the  last  lesson,  and  hoping  that  the 
people  would  be  touched  with  a  like  sympathy 
at  sight  of  Him,  he  goes  out  again  and  assever- 
ates his  seven  times  reiterated  judgment,  "I 
find  no  crime  in  him  ;  "  then  the  tragic  figure, 
still  thorn-crowned  and  empurpled,  comes  forth, 
and  Pilate  with  thrilling  word  and  gesture 
cries,  *' Behold  the  man!"  But  bloodhounds 
know  no  pity.  For  all  answer,  resounds  the 
now  familiar  cry,  '*  Crucify  Him ! "  Pilate  is  an- 
gered. *'  Take  Him  yourselves  then  and  crucify 
Him.  I  cannot  do  it.  Do  it  by  mob  law  if  you 
will,  but  I  find  no  crime  in  Him." 

Pilate's  Superstition.  They  give  a  hitherto 
unmentioned  reason  why  He  should  be  put  to 
death, — the  Jewish  law  against  blasphemy, — 
and  assert  that  He  deserves  death  (which  they 
are  powerless  to  inflict),  "because  he  made 
Himself  the  Son  of  God."  Strange  compound 
of  unbelief  and  superstition,  Pilate  remembers 
his  wife's  dream,  and  shudders  at  the  thought 
that  this  man  may  have  some  magical,  spiritual- 


l6o  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

istic  power,  and  that  he  may  be  bringing  some 
curse  of  God  upon  himself.  This  must  be 
looked  into.  So  he  takes  Jesus  back  into  the 
palace  to  question  Him.  "  Whence  art  thou?" 
he  asks.  Again  Jesus  gives  him  no  response. 
It  is  not  for  Pilate,  moved  with  superstitious 
fear,  to  hear  of  His  Divine  Nature  and  eternal 
existence.  The  governor  grows  angry  at  this 
scant  reverence  to  him,  and  threatens,  *'  I  have 
power  to  release  thee  and  I  have  power  to 
crucify  thee."  How  strange  the  answer  from  the 
friendless  Prisoner !  The  positions  of  the  two 
seem  reversed,  as  with  the  fearless  dignity  given 
Him  by  His  own  consciousness  of  the  deeper 
meaning  of  the  whole  awful  tragedy,  the  Martyr 
says,  **  Thou  wouldst  have  no  power  against 
Me  except  it  were  given  thee  from  above." 
Impressed,  despite  himself,  by  the  manner  and 
words  of  his  Prisoner,  and  feeling,  perhaps, 
more  deeply  than  before,  that  His  claim  to  be 
the  Son  of  God  must  have  some  basis,  Pilate 
sets  himself  the  more  earnestly  to  release  Him. 
Pilate  Defeated.  He  little  knows  the  craft 
and  power  of  those  with  whom  he  has  to  deal. 
These  shrewd  adversaries  threaten  him  with  a 
charge  of  complicity  with  treason.  Pilate  did 
not  want  an  investigation,  by  the  imperial 
government,  of  certain  of  his  acts  that  rose  be- 
fore liis  memory.  A  charge  like  tliis,  entered 
against  him  at  Hume,  would  be  a  very  serious 


Monday  after  Judica  161 

thing.  His  enemies  and  rivals  might  be  able 
to  use  it  to  his  undoing.  Much  as  he  desired 
to  release  Jesus,  he  was  yet  not  willing,  for 
honor,  truth,  and  justice,  to  sacrifice  himself. 
So  he  brings  the  patient  Victim  forth  once 
more.  He  sees  that  he  must  yield.  He  will 
at  least  insult  and  flaunt  those  who  have  forced 
him  unwillingly  to  this  deed  that  shames  him. 
*'  Behold  your  King  !  "  he  cries  in  mockery  to 
the  Jews.  They  knew  how  to  drive  the 
mockery  back  in  bitterness  upon  himself. 
True,  it  involved  hypocrisy  and  pretended 
loyalty  to  the  rule  they  hated,  but  it  will 
compel  him  if  he  still  wavers.  So  they  answer 
boldl}^,  *'  We  have  no  king  but  Csesar !  "  "  If 
thou  release  this  man  thou  art  not  Csesar's 
friend,"  still  rings  in  his  ears.  He  dares  not 
shun  the  issue.  He  can  make  no  further 
struggle.     The  rest  is  inevitable. 

1.  We  should  pray  for  our  rulers.  We  are 
commanded  to  do  so.  In  our  general  prayer, 
set  for  use  in  the  public  worship,  we  do  so. 
It  were  well  if  we  were  more  earnest  in  our 
pleadings  in  public  and  private  petition.  They 
need  our  prayers.  Set  in  difficult  places, 
surrounded  by  every  sort  of  coercive  influences, 
they  may  see  clearly,  as  Pilate  did,  the  right, 
yet  feel  themselves  driven  to  do  the  wrong. 
God   only  can  make  men  true  to  conviction, 


i62  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

brave  to  do  right,  and  strong  to  persevere 
against  every  threat  and  loss.  And,  as  we 
pray,  we  shall  feel  more  and  more  our  own 
responsibility  for  the  elevation  to  high  place  of 
none  but  just  rulers  and  judges,  tried  men  and 
faithful.  For  woe  to  the  land  where  Pilates 
sit  on  judgment  seats!  If  men  are  to  bear  rule 
aright,  those  only  must  have  authority  who 
recognize  the  supremacy  of  the  King  of  Kings, 
and  of  the  justice  and  righteousness  which  He 
has  decreed,  and  which  are  eternal.  "  God 
bless  our  native  land,"  and  make  us  "  a  people 
whose  God  is  the  Lord." 

2.  Peace  and  confidence  come  from  the  reali- 
zation that  wicked  men  and  devils  are  under 
the  control  of  Him  who  is  above.  Pilate  had 
power  because  God  permitted  him  to  have 
power.  Satan  had  power  over  Job  only  to  the 
limit  that  God  allowed.  "  The  heathen  rage, 
and  the  kings  of  the  earth  set  themselves 
against  the  Lord  and  against  His  Anointed," 
but  it  is  only  so  long  as  He  shall  choose,  and  to 
the  boundary  that  He  has  set.  To  all  the  foes 
that  may  assail  and  do  us  hurt  we  can  boldly 
say,  "  Thou  couldest  have  no  power  against  me 
except  it  were  given  thee  from  above."  Thus 
we  dare  be  fearless,  for  He  who  gives  this 
power  can  take  it  away.  **  He  causeth  the 
wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,  and  tlie  remainder 
of  wrath  he  will  restrain."     Why  He  permits 


Monday  after  Judica  163 

the  use  of  this  power,  and  what  are  His  limita- 
tions on  it,  is  His  to  know,  not  ours.  Only  be- 
lieve. Trust  in  His  love  and  might,  and  all  is 
well. 

Prayer.  O  Lord,  Thou  art  my  King,  not  Cae- 
sar. Yet  I  do  rejoice  that  in  rendering  unto 
my  rulers  what  is  theirs,  I  can  render  also  unto 
Thee  what  is  Thine.  I  pray  Thee  bless  and 
govern  those  who  govern  us.  Give  victory  to 
right,  restrain  the  powers  of  evil,  and  hasten 
the  good  day  when  all  Thine  enemies  shall  be 
overthrown.  Then,  as  we  behold  the  Son  of 
Man,  who  also  is  the  Son  of  God,  we  shall  not 
cease  to  praise  and  honor  Thee  for  the  redemp- 
tion Thou  hast  given  through  Thy  blood. 
Amen, 


Tuesday  after  Judica 

When  Pilate  saw  that  he  prevailed  nothing,  but  rather 
that  a  tumult  was  arising,  he  took  water,  and  washed  his 
hands  before  the  multitude,  saying,  I  am  inuocent  of  the 
blood  of  this  righteous  man  :  see  ye  to  it.  And  all  the  peo- 
ple answered  and  said.  His  blood  he  on  us,  and  on  our  chil- 
dren. Then  released  he  unto  them  Barabbas  whom  they 
asked  for :  but  Jesus  he  scourged  and  delivered  to  their 
will  to  be  crucified. 

And  when  they  had  mocked  him,  they  took  off  from  him 
the  scarlet  robe,  and  put  on  him  his  garments.  And  they 
lead  him  out  to  crucify  him. 

They  took  Jesus  therefore :  and  he  went  out,  bearing  the 
cross  for  himself,  unto  the  place  called  The  place  of  a 
skull,  which  is  called  in  Hebrew  Golgotha. 

Pilate  has  utterly  yielded.  If,  in  the  human 
heart  of  Jesus,  there  had  lingered  a  hope  that 
the  governor  might  be  successful,  it  was  dead 
now.  That  cowardly  officer  had  washed  his 
hands  in  public  token  that  he  was  innocent  of 
the  blood  of  this  just  man,  whom  nevertheless  he 
had  a  little  while  ago  declared  he  could  release. 
The  people,  mad  with  rage  and  self-delusion, 
had  called  tlown  upon  their  own  and  their  chil- 
dren's heads  the  blood  they  lusted  for.  Barab- 
bas had  been  set  free,  and  now  Jesus  is  given 
over  to  their  will.  For  the  third  time  He  is  de- 
livered over, — He  who  had  from  eternity  re- 
ceived the  adoration  of  angels, — to  the  mockery 
and  sport  of  worse  than  brutal  men. 
1G4 


Tuesday  after  Judica  165 

Once  more  clothed  in  His  own  raiment,  they 
lead  Him  out  to  another  stage  of  His  passion. 
Condemned,  He  now  goes  forth  upon  the  Via 
Dolorosa^  the  grievous  path.  Whither?  To 
Golgotha,  name  of  ominous  import, — the  place 
of  the  skull.  Bend  those  stiff  and  bruised 
shoulders  for  the  last  burden  they  shall  bear  on 
earth,  O  blessed  One,  with  visage  marred  more 
than  the  face  of  any  man.  Thou  despised  and 
rejected  of  men,  Thou  man  of  sorrows  and  ac- 
quainted, with  grief, — bend  Thy  shoulder  for 
this  heavy  burden,  while  they  lay  upon  Thee 
the  beam  of  the  cross  that  is  to  lift  Thee  up  so 
that  Thou  mayest  draw  all  men  to  Thee !  So 
"  He  went  out  bearing  His  cross  for  Himself." 

To  the  foes  who  hated  Him,  what  a  moment 
of  triumph  as  the  last  hope  of  help  has  failed, 
and  the  procession  of  the  doomed  moves  forth ! 
To  Pilate,  what  a  moment  of  hideous  self  convic- 
tion and  sense  of  baffled  effort,  as  he  sees,  or 
hears,  the  departure  of  the  grim  escort !  To 
the  timid  disciples  who  may  have  been  lurking 
on  the  outskirts  of  the  throng,  what  a  moment 
of  anguish  and  absolute  despair !  To  us,  who 
love  Him,  what  tenderness  and  sympathy  bedim 
the  eyes ! 

On  the  luay  to  the  crossy  while  every  weary 
muscle  aches,  while  heart  and  head  and  body 
are  sick  and  like  to  fail !  Through  the  familiar 
streets,  catching   here   and  there   the   fearful 


i66  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

glances  of  triumphant  hate  and  glee,  guarded 
by  the  soldiers,  and  feeling  heavier  each  moment 
the  burden  that  so  soon  shall  bear  His  quiver- 
ing body  in  its  utmost  agony  !  Oh,  the  sadness 
of  it ! — the  Lord  of  Life  and  Heaven  bearing 
his  cross  for  Himself,  on  the  way  to  Golgotha ! 

Two  lessons  from  this  portion  of  the  story  : 
1.  Watei'  cannot  wash  away  sin^  or  respon- 
sibility. "Though  I  wash  myself  with  snow- 
water and  make  my  hands  never  so  clean,  yet 
thou  wilt  plunge  me  into  the  ditch  and  my  own 
clothes  shall  abhor  me."  (Job  9 :  30.)  '*  Though 
thou  wash  thee  with  nitre  and  take  thee  much 
soap,  yet  thine  iniquity  is  marked  before  me, 
saith  the  Lord."  (Jer.  2:  22.)  That  were  too 
easy  a  way  to  be  rid  of  guilt.  Condemn  the 
just  man  to  ignoble  and  undeserved  death,  and 
then  call  for  a  basin  to  wash  your  hands  !  Prac- 
tice extortion  and  robbery,  give  yourself  over 
to  drunkenness  and  lust,  put  your  Lord  to  an 
open  shame,  despise  and  neglect  His  Word  and 
Sacraments,  then,  with  the  heart  still  unre- 
pentant, take  water  and  say,  "I  am  innocent!" 
What  a  demand  for  basins  there  would  be  if 
Pilate's  way  were  efficacious!  He  found  it 
otherwise.  Tradition  tells  of  his  miserable  sui- 
cide on  the  mount  that  bears  his  name  in  Swit- 
zerland. It  may  be  true,  but  if  not,  who 
doubts  that  he  found  throughout  all  his  accursed 


Tuesday  after  Judica  167 

life  the  inefficacy  of  that  water !  No ;  if  you 
have  misused  opportunity,  if  you  have  guilt  and 
shame  upon  you,  even  the  guilt  of  awful  crime 
and  vice,  there  is  a  place  to  wash.  "There  is  a 
fountain  opened  for  sin  and  for  uncleanness." 
(Zech.  13:  1.)  It  is  the  fountain  filled  with 
blood.  Who  shall  say  that  even  Pilate,  if  he 
had  come  to  repentance  and  to  trust  in  the  One 
whom  he  gave  up  to  die,  might  not  have  washed 
there  and  have  been  clean  ?  But  there  is  no 
other  way. 

2.  Qod  hears  and  answers  the  imprecations 
of  His  foes.  These  men  were  not  fit  to  pray, 
yet  God  heard  their  prayer  and  answered  it. 
Down  to  this  day  a  strange  curse  has  rested  on 
the  people  to  whom  He  sent  His  Son,  to  be  of 
their  blood,  and  who  received  Him  not.  Through 
hatred  and  desolation  and  ruin  manifold  and 
persecutions  unending,  they  have  come  with 
that  blood,  still  insufficiently  avenged,  upon 
them  and  their  children,  even  as  they  prayed. 
They  live,  their  race  unmixed  with  others,  until 
the  day  when  their  blindness  shall  be  done 
away,  and  they  shall  be  saved  through  the  Mes- 
siah whom  they  rejected ;  until  the  day  when 
they  shall  look,  with  the  look  that  brings  life, 
upon  Him  whom  they  have  pierced.  God  speed 
that  day !  And  may  He  fill  us  with  pity  for 
them,  that  we  may  do  our  utmost  to  bring  them 
to  the  Light  of  the  world. 


i68  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Prayer.  O  burdened  Christ,  as  Thou  goest 
on  thy  way,  Take  the  sympathy  and  love  of  us 
for  whom  Thou  bearest  Thy  cross !  Make  us 
to  be  clean.  Wash  us  from  our  guilt.  Fill  our 
hearts  to  overflowing  with  abhorrence  of  the 
sins  that  made  Thee  suffer ;  and  let  us  never 
lose  the  merit  of  Thy  passion, — for  Thy  Name's 
sake.     Amen. 


Wednesday  after  Judica 

And  they  compel  one  passing  by,  Simon  of  Cyrene,  com- 
ing from  the  country,  the  father  of  Alexander  and  Rufus, 
to  go  tcith  them,  that  he  might  bear  his  cross  after  Jesus. 

And  there  followed  him  a  great  multitude  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  of  women  who  bewailed  and  lamented  him.  But 
Jesus  turning  unto  them  said,  Daughters  of  Jerusalem, 
weep  not  for  me,  but  weep  for  yourselves,  and  for  your 
children.  For  behold,  the  days  are  coming,  in  which  they 
shall  say,  Blessed  are  the  barren,  and  the  wombs  that 
never  bare,  and  the  breasts  that  never  gave  suck.  Then 
shall  they  begin  to  say  to  the  mountains,  Fall  on  us  ;  and 
to  the  hills,  Cover  us.  For  if  they  do  these  things  in  the 
green  tree,  what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry  ? 

His  spirit  is  still  strong^  but  His  flesh  is  grow- 
ing very  weak  as  the  Master  totters  on.  He 
must  have  fallen,  or  grown  so  faint  that  the  ex- 
ecutioner saw  His  powerlessness  to  stagger  on, 
under  the  load  He  was  carrying ;  so  they  im- 
pressed into  this  service  a  stranger,  Simon  of 
Cyrene,  to  bear  the  cross  after  Him.  The  pro- 
cession begins  again  to  move,  Simon  carrying 
the  other  and  lighter  end  of  the  cross,  which 
still  rests  on  the  shoulders  of  the  Lord. 

The  Women  Weeping.  An  incident  which  oc- 
curred, perhaps,  during  the  momentary  pause 
while  the  cross  was  being  rearranged,  has 
brought  a  new  interest  into  the  scene.  Among 
the  people,  crowded  around,  were  many 
women ;  some,  doubtless,  who  had  heard  Him 
169 


lyo  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

speak,  perhaps  had  received  great  blessings 
from  Him,  either  for  themselves,  or  in  the  per- 
sons of  those  dear  to  them.  Touched  to  the 
heart  by  the  pathetic  spectacle,  they  softened 
with  their  tears  the  path  His  feet  must  tread. 
It  is  the  first  manifestation  of  love  and  sympa- 
thy since  His  disciples  all  forsook  Him  and  fled. 
The  Lord  was  not  insensible  to  their  compas- 
sion ;  His  heart  swelled  with  divine  self-forget- 
fulness,  and  divine  foresight  of  the  future.  He 
saw  like  an  unrolling  scroll  the  awful  days  of 
the  siege  of  Jerusalem ;  the  famine,  the  strifes, 
the  unparalleled  sufferings,  which  were  to  make 
this  doomed  people  the  most  miserable  on  earth 
— the  first  considerable  manifestation  of  the 
coming  upon  them  in  doom,  of  the  blood  they 
had  invoked  upon  their  heads.  And  He  speaks 
with  the  cross-burden  still  on  Him.  In  sight, 
perhaps,  of  Golgotha,  He  speaks  to  these  women 
of  the  sorrows  that  lie  inevitably  before  them, 
— for  Jerusalem's  day  is  past !  He  bids  them 
weep  for  themselves.  If  the  woe  upon  Him, 
the  fruitful  One,  be  so  great,  what  will  it  be 
upon  them',  dead  and  dry,  and  fit  for  the  burn- 
ing? 

1.  Blessed  service,  to  hear  the  cross  for  Jesus! 
Simon  Peter,  in  this  hour  of  the  Saviour's  need, 
was  not  there,  though  He  had  promised  to  fol- 
low Him  even  unto  death.     So  another  Simon 


Wednesday  after  Judica  171 

was  found.  The  explanation  which  St.  Mark 
gives,  that  he  was  the  father  of  two  Christians, 
well-known  at  a  later  time,  indicates  that  this 
precious  burden  brought  blessedness  to  Simon 
the  Cyrenian.  It  always  brings  blessings  to 
take  up  the  cross  and  bear  it  after  Jesus. 
Cross-bearing  does  not  mean  the  mere  accept- 
ance of  inevitable  trials.  Far  otherwise.  We 
may  imagine  that  there  must  have  been  a  sym- 
pathetic willingness  to  bear  the  cross  of  Jesus, 
which  led  to  the  selection  of  this  man.  It  is 
certain  that  in  the  use  of  the  phrase  in  the 
Scriptures,  an  involuntary  bearing  of  an  un- 
avoidable burden  is  not  to  be  understood.  To 
bear  the  cross  after  Jesus  means  rather,  to  do 
what  He  did  ;  that  is  to  take  up  willingly  the 
duty  that  demands  self-sacrifice.  The  cross  im- 
molates selfo  The  cross  crucifies  the  flesh.  The 
cross  means  service  difficult  to  do,  and  self- 
denial  hard  to  be  borne, — and  the  willing  ac- 
ceptance of  this  service  and  practice  of  this 
self-denial,  that  alone,  is  taking  up  the  cross 
and  bearing  it  for  Jesus'  sake. 

2.  The  wages  of  sin  is  death.  The  individ- 
uaFs  sin  brings  the  individual's  death  ;  the  na- 
tion's sin,  the  national  death.  The  punishment 
is  sure,  and  when  the  *'  day  "  is  past,  the  doom 
is  fixed.  To  this  city  of  Jerusalem  shall  come 
the  vengeance  she  is  now  preparing.  Where 
the  cross  stands  now,  shall  stand  the  assailant's 


172  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

tower.  Instead  of  the  procession  going  out  of 
the  gate,  to  slay  the  Innocent  One,  shall  come 
great  processions  through  the  gates,  and 
through  the  breaches  in  the  wall,  to  put  to 
death  these  guilty  ones.  He  whom  they  have 
doomed  to  die  because  *'  all  men  run  after  him, 
and  so  the  Romans  shall  come  and  take  our 
place  and  nation," — He  shall  be  avenged  by 
the  coming  of  the  Romans  and  the  destruction 
of  the  city.  Sin,  unatoned  for,  means  death. 
Where  are  your  sins? 

3.  Mountains  and  hills  cannot  cover  guilt. 
These  Jews  found  it  so  when  Jerusalem  fell. 
Ever}^  sinful  soul  shall  find  it  so,  when  the  eyes 
of  the  Judge  shall  search  him  through  and 
through.  There  is  another  daj^  coming  of 
which  similar  words  are  written.  (Rev.  6  :  12- 
17.)  Oh,  unsaved  soul,  beware !  The  moun- 
tains and  the  hills  will  be  as  ineffectual  as 
Pilate's  basin.  There  is  One  who  can  hide  sin 
and  cover  guilt.  (Read  Jer.  50  :  20.)  Trust  in 
Him.     Make  your  refuge  there. 

Prayer.  Lord  Jesus,  we  pray  Thee  to  give 
us  strength  to  bear  the  cross  and  follow  Tliee. 
Since  Thou  hast  borne  it,  our  burden  cannot  be 
too  lieavy.  Let  our  sins,  crucified  on  the  cross 
with  Thee,  have  no  more  power  within  us  or 
against  us.  O  Lord,  we  hide  in  Thee,  the  Rot^k 
of  Ages.     Amen. 


Thursday^  after  Judica 

And  there  were  also  two  others,  malefactors,  led  with 
him  to  be  put  to  death. 

And  when  they  were  come  unto  a  place  called  Golgotha, 
that  is  to  say,  The  place  of  a  skull,  they  gave  him  wine  to 
drink  mingled  with  gall:  and  when  he  had  tasted  it,  he 
would  not  drink.  There  they  crucified  him,  and  the  male- 
factors, one  on  the  right  hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left. 
Then  was  the  Scripture  fulfilled,  which  saith,  "He  was 
numbered  with  the  transgressors." 

Golgotha.  The  end  of  the  journey  I  The 
feet  that  have  trodden,  on  missions  of  love  and 
mercy,  so  many  of  the  hills  and  valleys  of 
Galilee  and  Samaria  and  Judtea,  have  taken  the 
last  weary  path  of  His  earthly  life.  The  rest 
follows  quickly.  Since  not  every  gleam  of 
mercy  is  entirely  excluded  from  these  awful 
executions,  they  first  stupefy  the  victims  with  a 
drink  compounded  of  wine  and  myrrh,  prepared, 
according  to  custom,  by  the  women  of  Jeru- 
salem. The  two  thieves  drink  it  willingly,  but 
Jesus  will  not  take  His  departure  with  His 
senses  dulled.  He  is  here  to  suffer,  to  the  last, 
all  that  is  due  the  sinners  in  whose  place  He 
stands.  He  will  drain  to  the  dregs  the  cup  His 
Father  has  prepared  for  Him,  the  cup  of  woe, 
— and  so  He  will  not  drink  of  this  cup  of  dead- 
ening.    He  tastes  it,  and  perceiving  what  it  is, 

173 


174  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

He  puts   it  from  Him.     Think  of  the  self-re- 
nunciation involved  in  this  act. 

The  execution  proceeds.  Lay  down  the 
cross  upon  the  ground,  you  who  are  appointed 
to  this  unenviable  task.  Stretch  Him  upon  it. 
Now  place  the  arms,  extended,  on  the  cross- 
beam. Hear,  the  nails  and  the  mallet !  More 
awful  than  the  sound  of  falling  clods  upon  a 
coffin  lid,  hear  those  blows,  one  after  another, 
as  the  nails  crush  their  way  through  tendon 
and  bone  in  the  palms  of  the  hands,  where  meet 
and  cross  all  the  sensitive  nerves  that  run  from 
the  fingers  up  the  arms.  What  utterly  inde- 
scribable torture  He  suffers !  Place  the  feet, 
now,  one  upon  the  other,  the  sole  of  one  foot 
flat  upon  the  main  beam  ;  and  with  another 
large  nail,  forced  down  with  heavy  strokes, 
fasten  them  to  the  wood  !  Then  lift  up  the 
cross;  let  its  foot  slip  down  into  the  hole  dug 
to  receive  it,  with  a  jar  that  hurls  the  body 
upon  th«  pin  that  is  to  serve  as  a  torture-seat, 
while  every  muscle  is  wrenched  and  strained 
until  it  would  seem  that  the  agony  must  drive 
Him  mad.  This  is  the  penalty  of  sin.  Every 
pain  is  intensified  and  made  infinitely  greater, 
because  he  who  bears  it  is  the  God-Man,  capa- 
ble of  infinite  suffering,  in  order  to  cover  the 
immeasurable  sin  of  the  world.  *'  There  they 
crucified  Him."  Simply  the  words  are  said, 
yet   what    horror    of    meaning   they   convey  I 


Thursday  after  Judica  175 

And,  in  order  that  no  shame  be  lacking,  not 
only  is  He  executed  as  a  criminal,  and  not  only 
is  the  instrument  of  His  punishment  the  shame- 
ful cross,  but  He  hangs  between  two  malefactors, 
one  on  the  right  hand  and  the  other  on  the  left. 
"  He  is  reckoned  among  the  malefactors." 
What  a  terrible  mistake  is  here  !  The  only  man 
who  never  did  an  evil  deed,  never  had  an  evil 
thought,  never  allowed  a  blemish  or  an  error  to 
stain  His  soul,  is  here  on  Calvary,  reckoned  a 
malefactor,  dying  between  two  thieves.  The 
wild  rabble  looked  at  its  work,  while  angels 
must  have  sobbed,  if  tears  could  be  in  Heaven, 
and  devils  must  have  filled  the  vaults  of  hell 
with  madder  glee  than  hell  ever  knew  before. 
"  There  they  crucified  Him."  His  word  has 
been  fulfilled,  and  He  is  lifted  up. 

1.  Are  you  a  sinner?  Then  never  forget 
that  Jesus  did  not  refuse  to  eat  and  drink  with 
sinners,  and  in  His  last  hour,  to  die  with  them. 
Nay,  more.  He  freely  died  for  them.  The  only 
ones  who  are  excluded  from  His  love  and  grace, 
are  those  who  will  not  be  reckoned  among  sin- 
ners. He  came  not  for  the  righteous,  but  for 
sinners, — that  they  who  feel  their  need,  may 
find  it  supplied.  Do  not  remain  among  those 
who  love  their  sin.  Let  not  those  moments, 
prolonged  into  hours  of  agony  surpassing 
speech  or  dream,  be  lost  and  wasted  for  you. 


176  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

If  never  before,  then  now,  here  before  the  cross 
on  which  He  has  been  fastened,  let  Him  see  of 
the  travail  of  His  soul  for  you,  as,  with  true  re- 
pentance and  living  trust,  you  give  yourself  to 
Him,  to  be  redeemed! 

2.  He  hangs  between  heaven  and  earth — and 
closes,  thus,  the  broken  circuit,  that  the  grace 
of  Heaven  may  freely  flow  through  Him  upon 
the  sin-cursed  earth.  His  arms  are  wide  out- 
stretched, as  if  to  embrace  between  His  pierced 
hands,  the  broad,  lost  world  of  men,  and  bring 
them  close  to  His  throbbing,  love-filled  heart. 
No  other  tree  ever  held  aloft  such  fruit  of  life 
eternal !  He  is  made  a  curse  for  us,  as  it  is 
written,  "Cursed  is  every  one  that  hangeth  on 
a  tree."  And  since  the  curse  fell  on  Him,  the 
blessing  that  was  His  is  ours  I  Have  you 
touched  Him,  laid  hold  upon  Him,  that  the 
current  of  the  life  of  Heaven  may  course 
through  you  ?  Have  you  come  within  that  wide- 
reaching  clasp,  and  has  His  heart's  love  passed 
into  your  heart?  Has  this  tree  of  death  be- 
come to  you  the  tree  of  life?  Your  eternity 
waits  upon  your  answer.  Let  this  contempla- 
tion of  Him  never  leave  you.  In  Him  is  life — 
and  the  life  is  for  you  ! 

Prayer.  O  God,  in  this  Man,  reckoned  among 
the  malefactors,  is  my  pride  and  my  hope.  I 
will  never  glory  save  in  this  cross.     I  believe 


Thursday  after  Judica  177 

that  on  Him  were  all  my  sms,  He  bare  them  in 
His  body,  on  the  tree.  And,  since  He  bore  my 
curse,  oh,  give  me,  in  Thy  justice,  His  right- 
eousness and  grace !  Let  me  be  crucified  with 
Christ,  that  I  may  live;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ 
in  me.     Amen, 


Friday  after  Judica 

And  it  was  about  the  third  hour  when  they  crucified 
him.  And  Jesus  said,  Father,  forgive  them  :  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do. 

And  Pilate  wrote  a  title  also,  and  put  it  on  the  cross. 
And  there  was  written,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  King  of 
THE  Jews.  This  title  therefore  read  many  of  the  Jews :  for 
the  place  where  Jesus  was  crucified  was  nigh  to  the  city :  and 
it  was  written  in  Hebrew,  and  in  Latin,  and  in  Greek.  The 
chief  priests  of  the  Jews  therefore  said  to  Pilate,  Write  not, 
The  King  of  the  Jews ;  but,  that  he  said,  I  am  King  of 
the  Jews.  Pilate  answered,  What  I  have  written  I  have 
written. 

The  soldiers  therefore,  when  they  had  crucified  Jesus, 
took  his  garments,  and  made  four  parts,  to  every  soldier  a 
part ;  and  also  the  coat :  now  the  coat  was  without  seam, 
woven  from  the  top  throughout.  They  said  therefore,  one 
to  another,  Let  us  not  rend  it,  but  cast  lots  for  it,  whose  it 
shall  be ;  that  the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled,  which  saith, 

They  parted  my  garments  among  them, 

And  upon  my  vesture  did  they  cast  lots. 
These  things  therefore  the  soldiers  did. 

The  First  Words  from  the  Cross.  With  His 
racked  and  tortured  nerves  tense  with  anguish, 
with  the  mockery  and  bitter  hatred  of  His  foes 
fresh  in  His  memory,  with  long  hours  of  con- 
tinual pain,  beyond  expression,  yet  before  Him, 
the  Master  opens  His  lips  and  speaks.  What 
would  5^ou  expect  to  hear  Him  say?  Could 
any  words  of  vehement  rebuke  be  too  severe 
for  Him  to  utter  after  His  long  silence  before 
178 


Friday  after  Judica  179 

the  face  of  the  tormentors?  Will  He  denounce 
the  wrath  of  Heaven  upon  their  guilt  ?  Will 
He  speak  words  of  might,  bringing  down  fire 
from  the  skies  to  consume  them  ?  No  ;  not  so. 
He  has  no  words  for  men,  though  He  has 
thoughts  in  His  heart  of  those  who  hate  Him. 
He  speaks  to  His  Father.  And  the  words?  A 
prayer !  For  Himself,  doubtless,  in  His  utter 
weakness?  No,  not  for  Himself.  For  His 
friends,  then,  that  they  may  be  helped  and 
strengthened,  to  bear  their  heavy  burden  with- 
out despairing  ?  No,  not  for  His  friends.  You 
and  I  would  never  have  conceived  it  possible, 
without  this  sacred  record,  but  it  is  neverthe- 
less true,  that  the  first  words  on  the  cross  are 
a  prayer  for  the  forgiveness  of  His  enemies. 
"Father,  forgive  them,  they  know  not  what 
they  do."  Ah,  He  is  love  I  It  will  not  do  to 
say  He  has  love,  or  that  He  is  loving.  This  is 
love.  He  is  not  anxious,  nor  has  He  desire  for 
Himself.  Not  His  sorrows,  but  those  of  others, 
are  on  His  heart, — and  as  He  turns,  now,  from 
this  most  strange  and  awful  place  of  prayer  to 
the  throne  on  high.  He  thinks  of  the  abomina- 
ble guilt  of  the  men  who  have  placed  Him  here, 
and  fain  would  save  them.  Was  any  heart 
that  heard  this  prayer  so  hard  as  to  be  still  un- 
touched? 

The  Svperscription.     A  soldier  climbs,  to  fix 
above  His  head  the  customary  statement  of  the 


i8o  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

name  and  cnme  of  the  miserable  one  who  hung 
beneath.  A  stir  of  curiosity  goes  through  the 
multitude.  What  is  the  superscription?  A 
moment,  and  every  one  can  read  it  easily,  for 
it  is  written  in  the  three  languages  of  which  at 
least  one  was  everywhere  known  at  that  day ; — 
Hebrew,  the  tongue  of  the  country,  Latin,  that 
of  the  Roman  rulers,  and  Greek,  the  language 
of  commerce  and  literature  in  almost  every  part 
of  the  known  world.  In  these  world-embrac- 
ing languages,  the  superscription  reads,  "  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,  the  King  of  the  Jews."  How  the 
high  priests  and  their  party  raged !  To  brand 
them  as  subjects  of  that  crucified  malefactor ! 
How  it  stung  them,  in  their  triumph.  They 
demand  tliat  it  be  changed  ;  that  He  be  not 
awarded  the  title  of  King  of  the  Jews ;  that,  at 
least,  it  be  written,  *'  He  said  that  He  was  King 
of  the  Jews."  But  the  governor,  smarting  un- 
der their  victory  in  securing  the  death  of  Jesus, 
was  not  to  be  moved  in  this  point.  He  will 
not  change  what  He  has  written,  nor  spare 
them  one  indignity  that  he  has  it  in  his  power 
to  give.  So  the  Lord  hangs  tortured  beneath  the 
inscription  that  heralds  Him  King.  The  title 
they  had  denied  Him  is  given  Him  on  the  cross. 
Meanwhile,  as  part  of  their  reward  for  their 
horrid  service,  the  four  soldiers  beneath  the 
cross  of  Jesus,  are  dividlncj  among  tliem  His 
(jarments.     One  part  they  could  not  divide,  for 


Friday  after  Judica  181 

it  was  woven,  and  to  tear  it  were  to  destroy  it. 
Yet  none  was  willing  to  yield  it  to  his  com- 
rades. So,  as  had  long  ago  been  prophesied, 
(Ps.  22 :  18),  they  cast  lots.  Mingled  with  the 
low  groans  of  the  sufferers,  the  indignant  col- 
loquy of  the  priests,  and  the  awed  murmurs  of 
the  spectators,  might  be  heard  the  rattling  of 
the  dice  in  the  helmet  of  a  soldier,  as  one  after 
another  makes  his  throw  for  the  seamless  robe 
that  had  clothed  the  sacred  body  of  the  Christ, 
hanging  above  them. 

1.  Since  the  prayer  of  Jesus  for  His  enemies, 
no  man  dare  say  he  follows  Christ  while  he 
keeps  an  unforgiving  heart.  Well  does  He 
practise  what  He  had  preached,  "  I  say  unto 
you,  love  your  enemies,  pray  for  those  that  de- 
spitefully  use  you  and  persecute  you."  And 
He  taught  us  to  say,  "  Forgive  us  as  we  for- 
give." Do  you  forgive  ?  If  not,  you  dare  not 
pray  in  the  public  service  of  the  church,  or  in 
your  private  chamber,  the  prayer  He  gave  us. 
If  not,  you  have  not  appreciated  your  own 
sin  and  the  great  forgiveness  God  has  freely 
offered  you.  You  are  like  the  servant  to  whom 
the  enormous  debt  had  been  forgiven,  who  took 
his  fellow-servant  by  the  throat  and  would  have 
thrust  him  into  prison,  because  he  had  not  the 
means  to  pay  the  few  pence  he  owed.  If  you 
dare  to  say  in  your  heart  "I  will  never  for- 


i82  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

give,"  whatever  the  injury  you  have  suffered, 
then  you  are  unforgiven,  and  dare  not  approach 
the  altar  with  your  gift.  If  anj^  man  have  not 
the  Spirit  of  Christ  he  is  none  of  His;  and 
Christ  forgave  His  deadly  foes. 

2.  God  ivonderfuUy  overruled  the  speech  and 
actions  of  men,  in  their  relation  to  Christ. 
Prophetic  meaning  lies  in  the  cruel  words,  "  It 
is  profitable  that  one  man  die,  and  the  whole 
'nation  should  not  perish."  And  significant  is 
the  action  of  Pilate,  in  translating  into  all  the 
tongues  of  the  known  world,  the  inscription 
for  the  cross  of  Jesus.  It  was  true.  In  a 
deeper  sense  than  he  knew,  he  had  written  an 
imperishable  testimony.  This  ivas  the  King  of 
the  Jews,  foretold  in  psalm  and  story  and 
prophecy,  though  now  rejected ;  their  King, 
though  by  them  discrowned.  Nor  was  He 
King  of  the  Jews  alone,  but  the  Christ  and  the 
King  for  all  the  nations. 

This  was  tlie  first  deed,  while  Jesus  still  lived 
on  earth,  betokening  the  world-wide  meaning 
and  interest  of  His  mission.  Every  time  we  see 
tlie  messag'e,  in  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew,  we 
are  reminded  that  He  is  the  Crucified  Redeemer, 
for  all  the  woild,  and  our  liearts  bid  us  make 
haste  to  tell  of  His  Kingship  to  every  race,  in 
every  tongue, — unto  every  soul  of  man,  to  the 
uttermost  parts  of  tlie  earth.  He  said,  ''  Other 
sheep  I  have,  which  are  not  of  this  fold ;  them 


Friday  after  Judica  183 

also  must  I  bring ;  and  there  shall  be  one  flock, 
one  shepherd."  Is  your  heart  with  His,  in  this 
His  great  desire  ?  What  are  you  doing  to  tell 
of  Him  to  the  others,  red,  black,  white,  brown, 
for  whom  He  died  as  truly  as  He  died  for  you? 
In  Africa,  in  Japan,  in  India,  our  representa- 
tives are  seeking  to  fulfil  the  unconscious 
prophecy  of  Pilate  in  that  tri-lingual  super- 
scription on  the  cross.  Are  you  helping?  Are 
you  helping  all  you  can  and  ought  to  help  ? 
Let  us  teach  the  nations  to  see  this  spectacle 
on  Golgotha,  and  to  read  its  meaning  in  their 
own  tongue. 

3.  Even  under  the  cross  it  is  possible  for 
men  to  be  greedy  for  self  and  in  the  idolatry  of 
covetousness  to  forget  the  God  who  is  dying 
above  them.  Beneath  the  very  blood  of  Jesus 
the  gambler  will  not  forget  the  sorcery  of  his 
dice,  while  he  has  a  chance  to  make  sinful 
gain,  though  his  prize  be  garments  sanctified 
by  the  touch  of  Clirist's  pure  body, — an  offer- 
ing of  love  from  some  who  had  supplied  His 
lack  of  this  world's  goods,  a  seamless  robe 
woven  by  some  unnamed  helper  of  the  Lord. 
Let  us  beware  of  selfish  aims  intruding  into  our 
hearts  even  in  the  holiest  places ! 

Prayer.  O  Christ  instil  within  me  the 
gracious  spirit  of  forgiveness,  that  I  may  not 
withhold  from  any  man  free  pardon  like  that 


184  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

which  Thou  hast  given  me.  And  use  me,  in 
Thy  love,  to  tell  Thy  love  to  others.  Hasten 
the  day  when  every  man  shall  have  heard  in  his 
own  tongue  Thy  saving  Word.  Let  Thy  love 
wean  me  from  the  things  of  earth,  and  Thy 
cross  lift  mine  eyes  above  the  greed  of  gain. 
Amen. 


Saturday  after  Judica 

And  they  that  passed  by  railed  on  him,  wagging  their 
heads,  and  saying,  Thou  that  destroyest  the  temple,  and 
buildest  it  in  three  days,  save  thyself:  if  thou  art  the  Son 
of  God,  come  down  from  the  cross.  In  like  manner  also  the 
chief  priests  mocking  him,  with  the  scribes  and  elders,  said, 
He  saved  others ;  himself  he  cannot  save.  He  is  the  Christ, 
the  King  of  Israel ;  let  him  now  come  down  from  the  cross, 
and  we  will  believe  on  him.  He  trusteth  on  God ;  let  him 
deliver  him  now,  if  he  desireth  him :  for  he  said,  I  am  the 
Son  of  God. 

And  one  of  the  malefactors  that  were  hanged  railed  on 
him,  saying,  Art  not  thou  the  Christ?  save  thyself  and  us. 
But  the  other  answered,  and  rebuking  him  said,  Dost  thou 
not  even  fear  God,  seeing  thou  art  in  the  same  condemna- 
tion? And  we  indeed  justly;  for  we  receive  the  due  re- 
ward of  our  deeds :  but  this  man  hath  done  nothing  amiss. 
And  he  said.  Lord,  remember  me  when  thou  comest  in  thy 
kingdom.  And  he  said  unto  him,  Verily  I  say  unto  thee. 
To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise. 

The  people  stood  gazing  on.  Varied  feelings 
filled  them.  Anger  mingled  with  the  savage 
joy  of  the  victorious  yet  unsatisfied  priests  and 
their  followers ;  there  was  the  natural,  human 
pity  of  the  more  tender  hearted  among  the 
multitude ;  and  strange  questionings  arose  in 
the  minds  of  the  thoughtful.  The  passers  by 
who  turned  to  gaze  upon  the  awful  scene  seem 
to  have  been  fully  in  sympathy  with  the  Lord's 
enemies,  and  not  unwilling  to  add  a  pang  to  his 
sufferings ;  so  they  jeer  at  Him,  and  shake  their 
185 


l86  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

heads,  and  challenge  Him  with  taunts  to  prove 
His  claims  by  coming  down.  Very  hard  it  is  to 
withstand  such  challenges  when  we  are  fully 
aware  of  our  power  to  do.  But  Jesus  seems 
unmoved  by  scorn.  The  high  priests  and 
scribes  and  elders,  however,  always  ready  to 
aid  in  such  a  work  as  this,  add  their  voices  to 
the  scoffing  of  the  rest,  speaking  in  words 
strangely  true  and  prophetic :  "  He  saved 
others,  Himself  He  cannot  save."  False  as 
was  the  taunt  that  unless  He  came  down  from 
the  cross  He  had  no  claim  to  be  accepted  as  the 
Christ,  the  Chosen  One  of  God,  the  King  of 
Israel,  yet  in  those  first  words  they  spoke 
truth ;  if  He  were  to  save  the  world  He  could 
not  save  Himself.  This  was  the  price  He  must 
pay.  He  had  counted  the  cost  and  had  made 
His  choice.  And  easily  as  He  could  have 
vindicated  Himself,  even  now,  and  come  down 
from  the  cross,  yet  He  could  not  save  both 
Himself  and  us.  He  chose  not  to  save  Him- 
self. 

The  contagion  of  mockery  spread.  Even  the 
thieves^  suffering,  so  far  as  the  body  was  con- 
cerned, like  torture  with  Himself,  began  to  rail 
on  Him  ;  demanding  that  He  prove  his  IMessiah- 
ship  by  saving  Himself  and  them.  But  to  one 
of  them  comes  some  honest  thought  of  what  lie 
is,  and  of  what  this  Sufferer  on  the  middle  cross 
seems  to  be.     He  recalls  many  things,  strange 


Saturday  after  Judica  187 

and  impressive,  that  had  taken  place  during  the 
trial.  Christ's  bearing  and  His  words  even 
since  they  reached  Golgotha  must  have  moved 
him ;  as  the  prayer  for  the  forgiveness  of  His 
enemies.  Such  divine  unselfishness  cannot  be 
devoid  of  power  even  here,  so  this  man  turns 
from  his  scoffing  to  reason  with  his  fellow- 
criminal,  and  then,  humbly  pleading,  offers  to 
the  King  on  the  cross  the  suppliant  prayer : 
"  Lord,  remember  me  when  thou  comest  in  thy 
kingdom."  Ah !  here  was  something  far  better 
to  the  Saviour  than  wine  mingled  with  myrrh, 
better  than  the  compassionate  tears  of  the 
women,  best  of  all  the  joy  and  comfort  that 
could  come  to  Him  out  of  the  depth  of  His 
pain, — the  first  fruits  of  His  passion,  a  soul 
longing  for  salvation  !  A  pure,  simple,  beauti- 
ful trust,  offered  to  Him  whom  all  men  were 
mocking.  A  repentant  heart,  surrendered  to 
the  One  who  so  longed  for  the  forgiveness  even 
of  His  enemies.  He  forgets  the  pain  and  lone- 
liness, and  from  this  strange  altar  on  which  the 
bleeding  Victim  hangs  He  freely  and  joyfully 
gives  full  absolution  to  the  waiting  soul.  He 
gives  much  more  than  was  asked  for  !  "  This 
day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise."  The 
Second  Word  from  the  CrosSy  a  word  of  life-giving. 
Joy  on  the  two  crosses !  Joy  in  the  soul  of 
the  Saviour  over  the  lost  that  is  found ;  joy  in 
the   soul  of  the  forgiven  sinner   over  the  re- 


i88  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

demption  he  has  gamed.  Joy  in  the  presence 
of  the  angels  over  the  one  sinner  that  has  re- 
pented. Even  the  agonies  of  death  cannot 
keep  Jesus  from  His  work  of  saving  the  lost. 

1.  We  should  thank  our  Lord  that  He  did 
not  accept  the  challenge  of  the  scorners.  He  had 
twelve  legions  of  angels  for  his  body-guard. 
Let  Him  speak  the  word  of  command.  Let 
them  speed,  like  lightning,  down  from  the 
heavenly  armories,  and  with  glad  hands  set 
free  their  King  and  Captain  in  an  instant. 
What  silencing  of  the  mocking  !  What  release 
from  pain  for  the  Sufferer !  What  triumph  and 
vindication  of  His  claim !  Yes ;  but  to  us, 
what  loss !  Our  ransom  lost.  Our  debt  un- 
i:)aid.  Our  guilt  unexpiated.  Our  light  turned 
into  darkness.  The  heaven  that  was  within 
our  sight,  eclipsed  by  hell.  The  bells  ringing 
out  our  hope,  changed  into  the  tolling  of  our 
doom.  Nay,  He  wanted  no  such  triumph  as 
this,  which  would  have  meant  the  failure  of 
His  mission.  He  chose  rather  the  doom  and 
the  deaths  that  in  His  apparent  defeat  He 
might  gain  the  victory  and  fulfil  the  work  He 
came  to  do.  And  we  have  to  thank  Him.  Are 
you  thanking  Him,  every  day,  with  word  and 
deed? 

2.  Trust  God  in  spite  of  appearances.  This 
seemed  a  natural  challenge,  and  not  only  His 


Saturday  after  Judica  189 

foes,  but  also  His  friends,  doubtless  felt  that 
the  argument  of  the  scoffers  was  just.  He  said 
He  was  the  Son  of  God.  Would  the  Son  of 
God  be  overcome  by  Jewish  zealots  and  Roman 
soldiers?  The  Son  of  God  on  the  cross?  Who 
could  think  it?  That  weary  figure,  with  nails 
through  hands  and  feet,  and  hanging  head, 
with  blood -clots  from  the  thorns  still  mark- 
ing His  brow, — that  crucified  criminal  the 
Son  of  God?  Who  would  believe  it!  If  He 
is  the  Son  of  God,  where  is  His  Father  ?  Let 
Him  release  Him.  Grant  that  all  seemed  to 
disprove  His  claims.  The  argument  was  surely 
as  strong  as  any  argument  of  nineteenth  cen- 
tury skeptics.  Yet,  spite  of  all.  He  was  and  is 
the  Son  of  God,  and  He  and  His  Father  knew, 
though  all  the  world  was  ignorant,  why  He 
hung  there.  Learn  the  lesson.  However  plain 
may  be  the  seeming  that  God  has  forgotten 
you,  it  is  only  seeming.  Trust  God  in  spite  of 
appearances,  or  you  have  no  trust  worth  the 
name.  Trust  Him  in  the  dark,  or  your  faith  is 
vain.  Any  one  can  trust  Him  in  the  sunlight. 
Do  His  will,  and  suffer  His  will,  troubling  not 
yourself  about  how  it  seems,  and  how  men  will 
speak  of  it.  Jesus  trusted  Him,  and  left  it  to 
Him  to  vindicate  His  Son,  and  He  did  it,  He 
will  do  it  always. 

Prayer,     Dear    Lord,    Who    on    the    cross 


igo  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

heard  the  cry  of  the  repentant  thief,  hear  the 
cry  of  my  repentance  now.  Thy  self-forgetting 
love,  Thine  immolation  of  Thj^self  for  me,  Thy 
patience  and  Thy  meekness  in  the  face  of  the 
scorn  and  the  rejection  of  men,  Th}^  grace  in 
saving  others,  all  have  drawn  my  soul  to  Thee, 
— lifted  up  as  Thou  art  on  the  cross.  I  praise 
Thee  for  Thy  redemption.  Help  me  to  make 
my  life,  with  all  my  thoughts  and  words  and 
acts,  **one  grand,  sweet  song  "  of  gratitude.  I 
trust  Thee  and,  through  Thee,  the  Father, 
though  darkness  surround,  and  men  despise 
and  disbelieve.  O  Jesus  Christ,  Thou  art  the 
Son  of  God,  and  Thou  hast  died  for  me.  What 
shall  I  do  for  Thee  ?  Teach  me  to  give  the  an- 
swer in  heart,  and  daily  life,  until  I  shall  see 
Thee  as  Thou  art,  and  shall  be  like  Thee! 
Amen, 


Monday  after  Palmarum,  which  is  the  Sixth 
Sunday  in  Lent 

But  there  were  standing  by  the  cross  of  Jesus  his 
mother,  and  his  mother's  sister,  Mary,  thewi/eofCleophas, 
aud  Mary  Magdalene.  When  Jesus  therefore  saw  his 
mother,  and  the  disciple  standing  by,  whom  he  loved,  he 
saith  unto  his  mother,  Woman,  behold,  thy  son  !  Then 
eaith  he  to  the  disciple,  Behold,  thy  mother!  And  from 
that  hour  the  disciple  took  her  unto  his  own  home. 

Now  from  the  sixth  hour  there  was  darkness  over  all  the 
land,  the  sun's  light  failing  until  the  ninth  hour.  And 
about  the  ninth  hour  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying, 
Eli,  Eli,  lama  sabachthani  ?  that  is.  My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me  ? 

Another  comfort  mingles  with  the  exquisite 
anguish  which  is  hastening  to  its  culmination, 
— another,  in  addition  to  the  joy  of  rescuing 
the  thief.  There  are  some  near  Him  now,  who 
love  Him.  How  much  it  increases  any  grief, 
to  be  compelled  to  bear  it  alone !  Even  if  the 
grief  be  beyond  the  reach  of  words,  yet  the 
silent  sympathy,  the  loving  presence,  give  some 
mitigation.  So  now,  after  these  long  hours 
throughout  which  He  has  been  deprived  of  such 
comfort,  there  stand  at  the  foot  of  His  cross. 
His  Mother  with  her  sister  Mary,  Mary  of 
Magdala  (whom  He  had  delivered  from  such 
sore  bondage),  and  the  disciple  who  loved  Him 
best,  John  the  Beloved.  What  a  scene  for  a 
191 


192  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

mother  !  Now  were  fulfilled  the  words  which 
old  Simeon  had  spoken  to  her  when  the  babe 
lay  in  her  arms :  *'  Yea,  and  a  sword  shall 
pierce  through  thine  own  heart  also."  The 
sword  was  piercing  her  now,  and  oh,  how  sharp 
the  pain !  The  Lord,  in  His  own  grievous 
agony,  could  not  forget  her  grief,  nor  the  love 
that  had  been  lavished  on  Him  throughout  His 
life,  and  that  found  its  mightiest  expression 
now,  in  thus  driving  her  here  to  share  His  pain 
while  offering  Him  the  solace  of  her  beloved 
presence.  He  could  not  forget  the  years  that 
lay  before  her  in  her  widowhood  and  in  her  loss 
of  Him.  John,  who  had  his  own  home,  and 
was  able  to  care  for  her,  stood  there.  Some 
especial  honor  is  due  him,  in  recognition  of  his 
devoted  affection  and  of  his  steadfastness  in 
this  last  hour.  So  He  speaks  the  third  word 
fror)i  the  cross^ — a  word  of  kindly  provision  for 
His  loved  ones, — as  He  gives  to  His  mother  a 
son  whose  heart  was  like  hers  in  its  unfailing 
tenderness  to  Him ;  and  to  the  beloved  disciple, 
the  tenderest  of  all  bequests,  namely,  filial  care 
for  the  mother  of  our  Lord. 

Even  in  her  bitter  sorrow,  we  can  still  say  to 
her  to  whom  He  gives  His  last  thought  of  love, 
"Hail,  thou  higlily  favored  among  women!'* 
He  speaks:  "  Woman,  behold  thy  son."  "Be- 
hold thy  mother."  A  new  tie  is  formed ; 
Mary  finds  a  new  home  and  a  new  son,  whose 


Monday  after  Palmarum  193 

loving  relationship,  sealed  and  cemented  under 
the  cross,  will  never  fail  her. 

The  end  draws  swiftly  near ;  the  awful  cul- 
mination of  the  penalty  for  sin  is  at  hand.  God 
must  deal  alone,  and  in  secret,  with  this  One 
who  has  claimed  the  whole  world's  sin  as  His 
own.  So  He  draws  about  Him  the  vail  of  a 
strange,  mysterious  darkness.  From  noon,  for 
three  long  hours,  the  darkness  lingers.  The 
sun  hides,  ashamed  and  horror-stricken,  at  this 
scene  :  the  wicked  world  crucifyhig  its  Lover 
and  Saviour !  And  in  His  secret  place,  the 
Father  enters  into  inquisition  for  sin.  A  ter- 
rible stillness  marks  this  most  dread  inter- 
course. There  are  no  words  from  Jesus.  Those 
about  Him,  even  the  nearest  and  best,  are  in- 
capable of  comprehending  what  is  transpiring. 
H  a  shudder  of  terror  runs  through  the  throng, 
it  is  not  because  they  know  what  the  midday 
twilight  portends,  nor  what  it  hides.  These 
were  the  hours  of  the  utmost  trial  for  the  Lord, 
and  at  last,  overwhelmed  with  the  sense  of  re- 
moteness from  the  Judge  who,  in  His  right- 
eousness, is  not  able  to  look  upon  sin  even 
when  He  who  bears  it  is  His  Son, — at  length  the 
Saviour  uttered,  in  His  intolerable  pain,  the 
fourth  luordfrom  the  cross.  It  is  a  word  of  un- 
endurable anguish, — "My  God!  my  God!  why 
hast  Thou  forsaken  me  ?  "  This  was  the  cul- 
mination of  His  woe,  the  acme  of  His  punish- 


194  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

ment,  that  He  had  no  longer  the  Father's  pres- 
ence, and  the  Father's  approbation, — that,  at 
this  moment,  the  Son,  doing  His  great,  pre- 
destined, redemptive  work,  was  lost  in  the  Sin- 
bearer.  So  God  saw  not  Him,  but  the  mur- 
derers, the  thieves,  the  adulterers,  the  blas- 
phemers, the  God -haters,  the  unbelievers,  the 
sinners  of  every  type  and  dye,  whose  guilt  He 
had  assumed  as  His  own,  and  whose  penalty 
must  all  be  focused  into  this  terrible  time  of 
the  endurance  of  a  misery  which,  though  brief, 
was  infinite  in  its  intensity.  The  Sinless  en- 
dured the  abhorrence  of  His  Father,  that  so 
Jehovah  might  look  kindly  on  us  sinful. 

1.  A  sacred  thing  is  filial  love.  If  any  son 
could  rightly  render  only  slight  obedience  and 
reverence  to  a  mother,  Jesus  could  have  done 
it,  for  His  Mother  was  a  child  of  Adam,  and 
a  sinner  like  others ;  while  He  was  divine  and 
sinless.  Yet  He  was  always  subject  to  her, 
and,  on  the  cross.  His  love  was  shown  to  her 
most  tenderly.  How  dare  you  or  I  then,  to 
fail  in  our  tenderness  and  loving  provision  for 
the  mother  who  bore  us  ?  Son,  daughter,  are 
you  forgetful  of  3^our  mother  and  of  her  love  ? 
How  are  you  repaying  her  suffering  and  sac- 
rifice for  you  ?  Is  your  life  such  as  to  give 
her  joy,  or  pain?  Are  you  despising  her  love 
and  piercing  her  heart  with  your  waywardness, 


Monday  after  Palmarum  195 

selfishness,  dissipation  ?  Oh,  beware !  The 
Christ  who,  from  the  cross,  tenderly  cared  for 
His  Mother,  will  not  forgive  your  irreverence 
and  sin  against  the  sacredness  of  motherhood. 
Repent  and  follow  Him  in  this  path  also. 

2.  See  the  couraye  of  love.  The  women 
loved  Him  more  than  the  men  who  had  fol- 
lowed Him,  and  they  braved  whatever  danger 
there  was  in  pressing  near  Him.  Peter  had 
seemed  bolder  than  any,  had  spoken  more,  had 
professed  more  than  John,  but  John  loved 
more,  and  while  Peter's  courage  had  failed, 
John  was  with  the  women  to  receive  the  Lord's 
last  trust.  Oh,  it  is  love  that  counts;  love,  that 
is  the  richest  fruit  of  faith ;  love,  which  wins 
sacred  commissions  from  Jesus  ;  love,  that  glad- 
dens His  heart ;  love,  that  He  longs  for,  from 
the  souls  for  whom  He  poured  out  the  unlim- 
ited streams  of  His  own  love.  The  strangest 
thing  of  all  is  that  we  love  Him  so  little,  that 
our  love  flames  so  faintly  for  Him.  For  He  is 
most  love-worthy.  The  severest  indictment 
against  a  human  heart, — the  worst  thing  that 
can  be  recorded  against  it,  is  that  it  holds  no 
love  for  the  Most  Lovable  One,  finds  no  re- 
sponse to  His  self-forgetting  tenderness,  is  in- 
capable of  feeling  the  warmth  of  that  great 
love  which  might  warm  the  dead  heart  into 
loving.  Do  you  love  Jesus?  More  than 
earth's   treasures   or    pleasures?      More   than 


196  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

friends?     More  than  self?     How  can  we  fail 
to  love  Him  who  is  altogether  lovely  ? 

3.  Who  would  be  base  enough  to  neglect  or 
despise  tlie  last  trust  of  a  friend  ?  Can  you 
imagine  John  refusing  or  caring  little  for  his 
duty  of  being  a  son  to  Mary  ?  And  yet,  just 
before  our  Lord's  last  departure  from  earth,  He 
gave  us  a  trust :  "  the  gospel  of  the  glory  of 
the  Son  of  God,  which  was  committed  to  our 
trust.''  (1  Tim.  1 :  11.)  Many  have  forgotten  ! 
He  committed  to  us  a  mother,  the  Church,  who 
nurtures  and  saves  us.  He  called  upon  us  to 
extend  that  Gospel  and  to  sustain  the  Church, 
which  He  loves,  and  for  which  He  died  (Eph.- 
5 :  25),  until  all  the  wayward  ones  are  brought 
to  her  shelter,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth  have  learned  of  His  grace !  Are  we 
keeping  the  trust?  Are  we  cherishing  His  last 
bequest  to  us?  Are  we  holding  in  sacred  rev- 
erence, as  our  highest  and  most  joyous  privi- 
lege, the  work  He  has  committed  to  our  care  ? 
Let  the  tliousand  millions  of  the  unevangelized 
answer!  What  are  you  doing  with  this  trust? 
That  many  are  neglecting  it,  is  clear.  Are  you 
guilty  ? 

Prayer,  O  Lord,  help  me  to  love  as  Thou 
dost,  to  be  tender,  true,  and  selfless  after  Thine 
example.  Forgive  my  unloveliness,  and  my 
lack  of  love  for  Thee.     I  desire  to  love  Thee 


Monday  after  Palmarum  197 

utterly  and  ever.  Let  no  false  love  swerve  me 
from  full  devotion  to  Thyself.  Enable  me  truly 
and  well  to  keep  the  trust  Thou  hast  reposed 
in  me.  May  I  never  lose  the  memory  of  Thy 
passion,  nor  miss  its  lessons  for  me.  Lead  me 
alway  in  the  ways  that  Thou  dost  choose. 
Amen, 


Tuesday  after  Palmarum 

After  this  Jesns,  knowing  that  all  things  are  now  fin- 
ished, that  the  scripture  might  be  accomplished,  saith,  I 
thirst.  There  was  set  there  a  vessel  full  of  vinegar :  so 
they  put  a  sponge  full  of  the  vinegar  upon  hyssop,  and 
brought  it  to  his  mouth.  When  Jesus  therefore  had  re- 
ceived the  vinegar,  he  said,  It  is  finished  !  And  Jesus,  cry- 
ing with  a  loud  voice,  said,  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  com- 
mend my  spirit ;  and  having  said  this,  he  bowed  his  head 
and  gave  up  the  ghost. 

Still  He  lives  and  suffers  on  the  cross.  For 
many  hours  the  Syrian  sun  has  poured  intense 
heat  on  Him,  and  the  blood  is  running  riot 
through  His  fevered  body,  while  the  increasing 
inflammation  where  tendons  and  nerves  were  so 
cruelly  lacerated,  creates  within  Him  a  burning 
thirst.  Feeling  these  added  pangs.  He  remem- 
bers how  the  Scriptures  had  foretold  this,  and 
He  speaks  the  fifth  luord  from  the  cross^ — "  I 
thirst."  They  give  Him  cooling  drink,  and  the 
craving  of  His  poor,  tormented  body  is  relieved  : 
but  there  -is  a  deeper  thirst  within  Him.  Like 
a  hart,  panting  for  the  water-brooks,  His  soul 
is  thirsting  to  draw  near  again  to  God,  from 
whom  our  sins,  not  His,  had  separated  Him. 
The  hour  is  speeding  now,  when  that  thirst, 
too,  will  be  sated.  Yet  there  must  have  been 
behind  this  word  still  another  thirst, — a  yearn- 
198 


Tuesday  after  Palmarum  199 

ing,  too  deep  and  full  for  a  weaker  word  than 
thirst, — that  the  souls  now  perishing,  for  whom 
He  was  dying,  should  find  life  through  His 
blood.  That  thirst  is  not  yet  slaked.  You  and 
I  can  help,  by  seeking  to  save  others,  in  this 
giving  of  drink  to  Him.  Are  we  doing  it? 
*'  He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  His  soul ;  and 
shall  be  satisfied." 

Little  cared  He  that  some  were  still  taunting 
Him,  in  their  ignorance,  with  waiting  for  Elijah 
to  come  and  help.  For  the  cup  was  empty, 
now.  What  look  He  saw  upon  His  Father's 
face  ;  what  messenger  of  Heaven  whispered  in 
His  ear  that  eternal  justice  was  now  satisfied 
and  our  guilt  fully  atoned ;  or  what  inner 
knowledge  He  had  of  the  coming  of  the  end  of 
the  agony,  we  know  not :  but  when  He  had 
drunk  the  draught  of  vinegar,  the  gladdest 
words  earth  or  Heaven  ever  heard  fell  from  His 
lips.  **  It  is  finished  !  "  Thank  God  that  the 
grief  and  pain  of  sin-bearing  are  finished, 
blessed  Lord !  Thank  God  that  Thou  shalt 
never  need  to  suffer  again  for  our  redemption ! 
Thank  God  that  the  manifestation  of  the 
Father's  love  and  Thine,  is  complete ;  and  so 
we  can  never  fail  to  know  that  love  for  lack  of 
its  highest  expression.  Thank  God,  the  plan 
and  way  of  human  salvation  is  finished,  and 
there  remains  no  whit  to  be  done  to  make  our 
ransom    complete.     The  gladdest  words  that 


200  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

were  ever  spoken;  for  Him  who  spoke  them, 
for  Heaven  tliat  heard  them,  and  for  the  world 
of  sinners  to  whom  the  free  gift  of  eternal  life 
was  announced  in  them  !  There  was  yet  one 
awful  spasm  of  pain ;  from  his  lips  came  one 
fearful  cry ;  and  the  supreme  pang  was  paid, 
His  great  heart  broken.  Like  a  weary  child 
falling  to  sleep  on  the  breast  of  its  mother, — 
though  thorns  were  His  pillow,  and  the  cross 
His  cradle, — Jesus  died.  His  last  words  were 
those  He  had  heard  at  His  mother's  knee,  or  in 
the  Bible  school  of  the  synagogue  (Ps.  31 :  5) ; 
words  that  have  expressed  the  dying  trust  of 
Luther  and  of  many  saints — "  Father,  into  thy 
hands  I  commend  my  spirit."  No  wonder  men 
have  said,  *'  He  died  like  a  God  !  " 

1.  Let  us  realize  the  blessedness  of  a  fin- 
ished  redemjotion.  When  men  teach  us  that 
there  is  need  of  mediation  by  saints  and  mar- 
tyrs we  have  but  to  remember  the  words,  "It 
is  finished."  When  they  point  us  to  penance, 
to  fasting  and  self-mortification,  as  a  means  of 
adding  to  our  merit  before  God,  we  need  only 
recall  the  message,  "  It  is  finished."  When  they 
prate  of  a  purgatory  where  we  shall  expiate  our 
unforgiven  sins,  we  can  point  to  the  expiation 
on  the  cross,  and  say,  "It  is  finished."  To 
trust  in  our  prayers,  our  tears,  our  faith,  our 
deeds,  is  to  deny  that  He  spoke  truly  when  He 


Tuesday  after  Palmarum  201 

said,  "  It  is  finished."  There  is  no  other  merit, 
no  other  satisfaction,  no  other  hope  than  this  of 
which  He  told  us  once  for  all,  "  It  is  finished." 
He  will  never  make  that  sacrifice  again  on 
earthly  altars  by  means  of  human  priests ;  *'  It 
is  finished."  Nothing  can  stand  between  any 
human  soul  and  God.  All  is  done  ;  "  It  is  fin- 
ished !  "  For  us  to  accept  the  finished  work, 
the  complete  redemption,  is  to  receive  its  bless- 
ings, to  live  in  Him  forever.  Let  us  not  dis- 
honor Him  as  if  He  had  but  partially  and  im- 
perfectly done  the  work  committed  to  Him. 
The  music  of  His  words  will  never  cease  ;  "It 
is  finished." 

2.  He  who  does  not  with  his  whole  soul  re- 
spond to  this  awful  sacrifice  with  trustful  self- 
surrender  is,  of  all  ingrates,  the  most  uiigratefnl. 
There  is  no  sin  so  black,  even  as  we  count  sins, 
as  ingratitude.  That  one  should  imperil  his 
life  for  you  and  not  be  rewarded  with  utmost 
thankfulness,  is  inconceivable.  You  would  not 
receive  an  inestimable  kindness  from  your  fel- 
low-man and  then  refuse  him  any  grateful  re- 
sponse that  he  would  be  willing  to  accept.  If 
you  did,  your  own  heart  would  brand  you  base. 
Yet  men  who  are  honorable  in  earthl}"  relations 
hear  how  He  who  yielded  himself  to  redeem 
them  longs  for  their  trust  and  love,  and  turn 
their  backs  upon  Him.  Oh,  that  they  would 
think  what  they  do  !    Is  ingratitude  less  shame- 


202  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

ful  because  it  is  rendered  to  the  God-Man  who 
has  died  for  us  ?  And  shall  we  withhold  from 
Him  aught,  even  the  least  of  what  we  have  and 
are,  and  call  it  less  than  shameful?  All  is  His 
own,  bought  with  His  holy  and  precious  blood, 
and  with  His  innocent  sufferings  and  death. 
Have  you  given  Him  the  fullest  consecration 
of  your  means,  yourself,  your  heart  and  will? 
And  dare  you  give  Him  less,  since  He  claims 
it  all? 

3.  When  Ood  gave  His  Sony  He  gave  Him 
to  this  utmost  agony,  well  knowing  what  He 
must  endure.  He  gave  him  because  He  so 
loved  the  world.  Let  us  not  forget  what  it 
cost  the  Father's  heart,  as  well  as  what  the 
Son  took  on  Himself.  Let  us  count  this  one 
thing  i^roved  beyond  a  doubt, — God  loves  me  ! 
Whatever  clouds  may  lower  about  me,  what- 
ever mysteries  of  chastening  pain  may  visit  me, 
whatever  loss,  bereavement,  disappointment  or 
sore  sorrow  may  be  my  portion,  I  will  never 
doubt,  never  forget  that  my  Father  once  for  all 
has  proved  to  me  His  love,  when  He  counted 
not  His 'best  and  dearest  too  dear  to  give  for 
my  salvation !  So,  though  I  may  not  under- 
stand, I  will  not  doubt.  He  loves  me  ;  though 
He  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  Him.  Be  this  the 
strength  of  my  daily  life,  tlie  comfort  which  I 
will  whisper  ever  to  my  heart,  God  loves  me. 
Godj  who  gave  His  Son,  loves  me. 


Tuesday  after  Palmarum  203 

Prayer.  Oh,  Holy  Lamb,  slain  from  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world.  Thou  that  takest  away  the 
sin  of  the  world,  pour  out  upon  me  anew  the 
blood  that  cleanses.  Forget  not  my  baptismal 
covenant  with  Thee  ;  let  its  blessed  privileges 
never  be  lost  to  me.  And  as  Thy  heart  bled 
and  broke  for  me,  may  my  heart,  purchased  at 
this  awful  price,  be  only  Thine.  My  heart  is 
fixed,  O  God,  my  heart  is  fixed,  and  all  my 
love  and  trust  and  service  is  Thine  own,  Thine 
only.  I  yield  me  to  Thyself,  and  wonder  that 
Thou  art  pleased  to  accept  and  use  me  as  Thy 
child.     Let  my  soul  be  lost  in  Thee.     Amen. 


Wednesday  after  Palmarum 

And  behold,  the  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  twain 
from  the  top  to  the  bottom  ;  and  the  earth  did  quake ;  and 
the  rocks  were  rent ;  and  the  tombs  were  opened ;  and 
many  bodies  of  the  saints  that  had  fallen  asleep  were  raised ; 
and  coming  forth  out  of  the  tombs  after  his  resurrection 
they  entered  into  the  holy  city  and  appeared  unto  many. 
Now  the  centurion,  and  they  that  were  with  him  watching 
Jesus,  when  they  saw  that  he  so  gave  up  the  ghost,  and 
saw  the  earthquake,  and  the  things  that  were  done,  feared 
exceedingly,  saying,  Truly  this  was  the  Son  of  God.  And 
all  the  multitudes  that  came  together  to  this  sight,  when 
they  beheld  the  things  that  were  done,  returned  smiting 
their  breasts. 

Strange  j^orteiits  accompanied  and  followed 
tlie  culmination  of  the  great  drama.  At  the 
moment  of  the  death  of  Jesus,  it  was  noticed 
that  the  heavily  woven  veil  in  the  Temple, 
dividing  the  Holy  Place  from  the  Holy  of 
Holies,  was  torn  as  by  an  unseen  hand  from 
top  to  bottom,  so  that  the  secret  place, — hidden 
for  centuries  from  the  sight  of  every  man  but 
the  High  Priest,  and  seen  by  Him  only  on  the 
Day  of  Atonement  of  each  year,  when  lie 
entered  with  the  substitute  blood  to  make  rec- 
onciliation for  the  sins  of  the  people, — this 
secret  place  was  now  revealed  to  the  gaze  of 
every  one  who  looked.  It  was  well.  The  age 
of  ceremonies  was  pust,  that  of  realities  was 
204 


Wednesday  after  Palmarum        205 

come.  Types  and  shadows  were  no  longer 
needed,  for  the  substance  was  here.  The  blood 
of  goats  and  bulls  had  no  more  virtue;  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God  was  shed.  The  sep- 
aration between  Heaven  and  man  was  done 
away  and  no  veil  could  any  longer  keep  the 
humblest  and  poorest  from  intimate  commun- 
ion with  God  Himself.  Tlie  high  priest  of  the 
old  ritual  was  superseded;  the  true  eternal 
High  Friest  had  entered  once  for  all  into  the 
Holy  of  Holies  on  high,  and  every  believer  in 
Him  is  himself  a  priest  unto  God.  The  ancient 
walls  of  division  are  no  more.  It  was  well  that 
the  veil  was  rent. 

The  old  earth  rocked  and  shook,  as  its  Maker, 
lifted  on  its  bosom,  died  in  agony.  The  Cen- 
turion with  his  Roman  soldiers,  inured  to  every 
sort  of  strange  and  fearful  scene,  trembled  and 
were  afraid ;  in  their  amazement  bearing  testi- 
mony that  *'This  was  a  just  man,  and  the  Son 
of  God."  The  people  who  had  witnessed  all, 
now  found,  no  matter  with  what  feelings  they 
had  first  come  forth,  a  burdensome  oppression 
fall  heavily  upon  them,  a  melancholy  apprehen- 
sion of  what  all  this  might  mean :  and,  recall- 
ing the  darkness  and  the  cry  of  Jesus  (the  like 
of  it  never  heard  from  a  crucified  man  before) ; 
feeling  also  the  earthquake  and  the  nameless 
influence  that  pressed  like  a  weight  upon  them, 
they  smote  upon  their  breasts  and  turned  away. 


2o6  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

Such  a  scene  could  not  be  unaccompanied  by 
supernatural,  soul-thrilling  incidents.  He  who 
had  stilled  the  seas  and  calmed  the  winds  and 
ruled  the  powers  of  nature  in  His  life,  could 
not  suffer  such  an  awful  death  and  nature  her- 
self be  dumb.  Ah,  you  have  cause  to  beat 
your  breasts,  ye  dwellers  in  Jerusalem !  Not 
many  years  shall  pass  till  you  have  distressful 
cause  to  remember  the  spectacle  from  which, 
sad-hearted,  you  turned  away. 

1.  Among  the  causes  for  gratitude  that  are 
inseparably  bound  together  with  the  sufferings 
and  death  of  Jesus,  one  of  the  greatest  is  that 
of  which  the  rent  veil  tells  us.  We  do  not  ap- 
preciate it,  because  we  have  never  known  what 
it  is  to  have  our  Lord  put  far  from  us  by  earthly 
ordinances  and  priestly  inventions.  Perhaps, 
also,  we  do  not  know  how  to  prize  the  blessing, 
because  we  have  not  with  simplicity  and  faith 
made  experience  of  it.  But  to  a  soul  that  has 
known  only  the  darkness  of  heathenism  or  the 
twilight  of  Romanism,  it  comes  as  a  truth  quite 
fresh  and  wonderful,  that  the  Holy  of  Holies  is 
open  to  us  because  our  own  Mediator  has,  once 
for  all,  entered  and  bidden  us  enter.  And  to 
one  who  has  made  progress  in  the  divine  life 
and  the  full  acceptance  of  its  precious  privi- 
leges, there  is  no  riclier  joy  than  tliis ;  to  press 
to  the  footstool  of  God  and  pour  out  in  unre- 


Wednesday  after  Palmarum        207 

strained  communion  the  heart's  pleadings  and 
confession.  To  be  assured  of  the  mercy  and 
tenderness  of  God  is  inestimably  blessed.  To 
know  that  at  every  hour,  in  gladness  and  sorrow, 
in  perplexity  and  anxiety,  He  is  here,  and  that 
there  is  no  veil  between  us ;  that  we  have  only 
to  look  up,  sure  that  He  is  looking  down  upon 
us;  only  to  reach  out  the  hand,  sure  that  His 
hand  is  there  to  clasp  it ;  only  to  go  forward, 
sure  that  He  goes  by  our  side ;  only  to  ask 
guidance,  sure  that  He  will  lead  aright ;  only 
to  confess  our  sin,  sure  that  He  freely  pardons 
it;  only  to  weep  out  our  sorrow  on  His  bosom, 
sure  of  His  sympathy  and  of  the  balm  He 
gives, — there  is  nothing  more  precious  than 
this.  But  do  you  know  it?  Have  you  gained 
this  communion?  Is  prayer  your  breath?  Do 
you  linger  at  the  footstool,  and  wait  and  listen 
for  the  answer  that  He  gives,  while  the  Holy 
Ghost  brings  to  your  remembrance  the  words 
of  Christ? 

2.  A  pitiful  picture  of  the  ivorld  that  knows 
not  Jesus,  is  this  which  we  behold — the  people 
beating  their  breasts  and  feeling  their  burden, 
yet  knowing  no  refuge,  turning  away  from  the 
Christ  who  is  dead  !  If  He  had  never  lived 
again  that  would  be  the  picture  of  us  all.  Like 
the  two  disciples  on  the  way  to  Emmaus  telling 
of  their  vanished  hope  and  of  tlieir  dead  trust, 
would  the  highest  and  best  of  men  have  been. 


2o8  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

There  is,  to-day,  a  vast  multitude,  who  know 
their  siu  and  poverty  and  wretchedness,  but 
who  find  in  Christ  no  life.  The  cross,  to  them, 
is  but  the  place  where  He  hung;  and  to  them. 
He  has  never  risen.  So  from  the  dead  Christ 
of  their  disbelief  they  turn  away  ;  and,  alas,  too 
often  they  turn  to  the  dark,  deep-flowing  river, 
or  seek  at  the  pistol's  mouth  surcease  of  sorrow, 
but  seek  in  vain.  Oh,  tell  them  that  though 
He  died,  there  is  life  for  us  in  the  rich  blood 
He  shed ;  that  He  is  not  dead  to-day  ;  that 
He  is  the  Life,  and  he  who  lives  in  Him  shall 
never  die;  that  in  Him  is  righteousness  and 
peace  and  joy.  God  grant  that  we  may  draw 
the  wandering  ones  to  Him ! 

Prayer.  Lord  of  my  life,  let  my  faith  not  be 
less  than  the  centurion's.  Thou  wast  a  Just 
Man,  and  Thou  art  the  Son  of  God.  Here,  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross,  where  Thou  hangest,  let  all 
of  evil  that  is  within  me  die.  Here,  as  I  stand 
and  look  on  Thee,  let  the  burden  of  m}^  sin  and 
sorrow  roll  from  me.  And  as  I  live  in  Thee, 
ma}^  my  -life  be  full  of  Thy  likeness  ;  drawing, 
as  the  branch  from  the  vine,  all  of  its  strength 
and  fruitfulness  from  Thee.     A^nen. 


Thursday  after  Palmarum 

Eead  the  lessons  for  the  day  :  1  Cor.  11 :  23-32,  and  John 
13:  1-15. 

[The  Gospel  for  the  day  has  already  been  treated  in 
our  studies,  (see  page  40,  Thursday  after  Invocavit),  as  also 
the  account  of  the  institution  of  the  Holy  Communion 
(page  51,  Saturday  after  Invocavit).  Therefore  it  has  seemed 
well  to  include  here  a  special  meditation  on  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, instituted  on  this  Thursday  evening.] 

Matt.  26  :  29.  "  I  shall  not  drink  henceforth 
of  this  fruit  of  the  vine  until  that  day  when  I 
drink  it  new  with  you  in  my  Father's  king- 
dom." 

Our  Lord  had  just  instituted  the  sacred,  mys- 
terious, life-giving  rite  of  the  Holy  Supper. 
He  was  supplanting,  with  this  Sacrament,  the 
old  feast  of  the  Passover.  That  had  a  typical 
lamb :  this  the  anti-typal  Lamb.  That  was  an 
emblem :  this  was  the  reality.  That  was  the 
lamb  slain  to  foreshadow  salvation  through 
blood :  this  the  Lamb  slain  to  give  redemption 
by  His  blood. 

He  had  just  said,  *'  This  do."  In  the  same 
moment.  He  told  them  of  the  impending  part- 
ing, and  also  of  a  reunion  in  the  time  to  come. 
In  the  kingdom  of  His  Father,  after  He  shall 
have  come  again,  we  shall  sit  down  with  Him, 
to  drink  of  the  new  wine.  In  the  very  moment 
209 


210  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

of  substituting  a  new  feast  for  the  old,  He  fore- 
tells that  this,  too,  shall  be  done  away.  He 
would  have  us  remember  this,  while  we  enjoy 
and  are  blessed  by  the  observance  of  the  sacra- 
ment He  gave  us.  Therefore  He  guides  the 
pen  of  the  Apostle  so  that  he  writes  to  remind 
us  that,  "  As  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  the  cup,  ye  proclaim  the  Lord's  death  till 
he  come.^''  Backward,  to  the  days  of  the  lesser 
light,  the  days  of  the  older  time,  the  feast  of 
the  mere  memorial  and  type ;  and  forward  to 
the  days  of  the  greater  light,  the  days  of  His 
visible  appearing,  the  time  when  death  shall  be 
swallowed  up  in  victory,  are  we  bidden  to  look 
when  partaking  of  the  feast  of  His  presence, — 
a  feast  so  much  richer  than  the  former,  so  in- 
ferior to  the  latter  feast  of  new  wine,  in  His 
Kingdom. 

The  Passover  was  celebrated  on  the  eve  of  a 
great  deliverance ;  the  Lord's  Supper,  on  the 
eve  of  a  far  greater  deliverance;  that  future 
feast  shall  be  in  memory  of  a  full  deliverance. 
The  Passover  was  first  eaten  under  the  shadow 
of  a  perilous  undertaking  ;  the  Lord's  Supper, 
in  the  sliadow  of  Gethsemane  and  Calvary ; 
that  coming  supper  will  have  no  shadows.  The 
Passover  was  eaten  by  a  million  people,  bound 
together  by  a  common  need  and  a  common 
hope;  the  Lord's  Supper  was  eaten  by  a  dozen 
men,  bound  together  in  the  communion  of  One 


Thursday  after  Palmarum         21 1 

Lord  and  one  love;  the  coming  feast  shall  be 
partaken  of  by  the  millions  upon  millions  of 
redeemed  from  every  tribe  and  nation  and  kin- 
dred and  people,  bound  together  by  the  common 
experience  of  grace  in  their  deliverance,  and  by 
the  blessed  tie  of  the  One  Fatherhood  and  their 
one  brotherhood.  Three  wonderful  feasts, — 
Egypt — Palestine — Heaven  ! 

Thirsty  soul,  dost  thou  not  long  for  that 
coming  feast  ?  We  shall  not  need  to  feed  upon 
Him  then,  since  need  for  the  remission  of  sins 
will  be  past — no  more  sin.  The  need  for  sen- 
sible manifestations  of  His  presence  will  be 
gone — no  more  doubt.  The  need  for  remem- 
brance will  be  superseded — no  more  parting. 
We  shall  sit  down  beside  Him,  you  and  I,  in 
communion  most  intimate  and  precious,  at  the 
time  of  that  new  Lord's  Supper. 

1.  An  exhibition  of  divine  unselfish  love  is 
found  in  the  establishment  of  this  Holy  Sup- 
per. Think  of  the  sorrows  upon  Him  and  be- 
fore Him  :  Gethsemane,  the  treachery  of  Judas, 
the  arrest,  the  abandonment  by  His  disciples. 
At  such  a  time  as  this,  He  could  think  of  His 
children;  of  the  need  for  some  central  mark 
and  ceremony  of  fellowship ;  of  the  comfort  and 
help  this  would  give  them  in  the  later  history 
of  the  Church ;  of  this  means  of  perpetuating 
His  real  presence  among  them,  in  a  way  that 


212  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

should  strengthen  the  faith  and  quicken  the  life 
of  those  who  should  come  to  Him.  Wonderful 
love — unselfish  love — the  love  that  breathes 
through  all  His  life,  and  especially  through 
those  last  addresses  and  prayers. 

2.  It  is  a  manifestation  of  divine  jyoiuer.  None 
but  God  could  institute,  for  all  time,  such  a 
mystery,  a  strangely  simple,  sacred,  peculiar 
feast,  "in  remembrance"  of  Him,  imparting,  as 
He  said,  "my  body,"  "the  new  covenant  in  my 
blood."  How  well  He  knew  the  fate  before 
Him,  whose  creeping,  deepening  shadow  the 
dull  disciples  had  not  yet  discerned  !  How  well 
He  understood  w4iat  we  can  never  comprehend, 
namely,  His  sacramental  presence  at  every  time 
and  place  where  the  Holy  Supper  is  celebrated, 
to  feed  us  and  strengthen  us  with  His  body  and 
blood,  given  for  us. 

3.  We  ought  to  appreciate  and  use  the  feast. 
Instituted  so  solemnly  ;  evidencing  so  tenderly 
the  Saviour's  love ;  serving  as  His  last  will  and 
testament ;  giving  us  an  opportunity  to  show 
His  death  and  point  to  His  coming  again, — Ave 
ought  not  to  think  lightly  of  feasting  here,  or 
to  count  it  a  little  thing.  It  meets  our  need 
for  individual  assurance.  It  goes  beyond  the 
written  Word  in  that  it  gives  me  a  participa- 
tion in  the  slain  body  and  the  outpoured  blood, 
which  are  mine  as  surely  as  the  bit  of  bread 
and   the  sip   of    wine   are   mine.      The    Holy 


Thursday  after  Palmarum         213 

Sacrament  singles  out  each  one  who  partakes 
of  it,  and  gives  to  eacli,  alone,  the  assurance 
that  He  receives,  in  pledge  and  seal  of  His  sal- 
vation, the  very  sacrifice  of  Calvary.  Can  you 
neglect  and  despise  such  heavenly  food  of 
grace  as  this  ?  Is  it  enough,  when  He  spreads 
this  table  furnished  so  rarely,  to  pass  it  by,  to 
come  but  seldom  ?  Oh,  shall  we  not  by  fre- 
quent communion  with  Him  thus,  be  better 
fitted  to  enjoy  the  new  wine  in  the  Father's 
kingdom,  where  He  who  kept  the  best  wine  till 
the  last,  shall  be  our  Host  ?  Oh,  come  in, 
Heavenly  Guest !  Let  me  feed  on  Thee, 
Heavenly  Bread !  Let  me  drink  of  Thee, 
Wine  of  eternal  Life  !  And  Thine  shall  be 
the  praise  and  glory  evermore. 

Prayer.  O  Saviour,  Who  hast  provided  at 
such  cost  this  sacred  feast,  give  me  hunger  and 
thirst  for  that  refreshment  which  it  offers  me. 
Fit  me  for  a  worthy  reception  of  Thyself. 
Robe  me  in  the  wedding  garment,  that  I  may 
not  dishonor  Thee,  nor  have  Thy  condemna- 
tion. Make  me  strong  through  the  food  Thou 
givest,  and  let  me  go,  in  the  strength  of  this 
meat,  faithfully  to  do  Thy  will.  As  I  receive 
Thee,  take  me  into  the  secret  place  of  Thy  rest 
and  love,  and  give  me  precious  communion. 
Keep  Thou  a  place  for  me  at  the  feast  where 
Thou  shalt  drink  again  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine, 


214  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

and  let  me  sit  with  Thee  there  !  Hasten  the 
day  to  which  Thou  dost  point  us  as  often  as  we 
come  to  the  Holy  Supper,  the  day  when  Thou 
shalt  return,  and  when  we  shall  be  forever  with 
the  Lord.     Amen, 


Good  Friday 

The  Jews  therefore,  because  it  -was  the  Preparation, 
that  the  bodies  should  nob  remain  on  the  cross  upon  the 
sabbath  (for  the  day  of  that  sabbath  was  a  high  day),  asked  of 
Pilate  that  their  legs  might  be  broken,  and  that  they  might 
be  taken  away.  The  soldiers  therefore  came,  and  brake 
the  legs  of  the  first,  and  of  the  other  who  was  crucified 
with  him  :  but  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  and  saw  that  he 
was  dead  already,  they  brake  not  his  legs  :  howbeit  one  of 
the  soldiers  with  a  spear  pierced  his  side,  and  straightway 
there  came  out  blood  and  water.  And  he  that  hath  seen 
hath  borne  witness,  and  his  witness  is  true:  and  he 
knoweth  that  he  saith  true,  that  ye  also  may  believe.  For 
these  things  came  to  pass,  that  the  scripture  might  be  ful- 
fiiUed,  A  bone  of  him  shall  not  be  broken.  And  again  an- 
other scripture  saith,  They  shall  look  on  him  whom  they 
pierced. 

And  when  even  was  now  come,  because  it  was  the  Prep- 
aration, that  is,  the  day  before  the  sabbath,  there  came  a 
rich  man,  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  a  councillor  of  honorable 
estate,  who  also  himself  was  Jesus'  disciple,  but  secretly, 
for  fear  of  the  Jews,  and  was  looking  for  the  kingdom  of 
God  ;  he  had  not  consented  unto  their  counsel  and  deed; 
and  he  boldly  went  in  unto  Pilate,  and  asked  for  the  body  of 
Jesus.  And  Pilate  marvelled  if  he  were  already  dead  : 
and  calling  unto  him  the  centurion,  he  asked  him  whether 
he  had  been  any  while  dead.  And  when  he  learned  it  of 
the  centurion,  he  granted  the  corpse  to  Joseph. 

And  there  came  also  Nicoderaus,  he  who  at  the  first  came 
to  him  by  night,  bringing  a  mixture  of  myrrh  and  aloes, 
about  a  hundred  pound  weight.  So  they  took  the  body  of 
Jesus,  and  bound  it  in  linen  cloths  with  the  spices,  as  the 
custom  of  the  Jews  is  to  bury.  Now  in  the  place  where 
he  was  crucified  there  was  a  garden ;  and  in  the  garden  his 
215 


2i6  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

owu  new  tomb,  which  had  been  hewn  out  of  a  rock,  wherein 
was  never  man  yet  laid.  There  then  because  of  the  Jews' 
Preparation  (for  the  tomb  was  nigh  at  hand)  they  hiid 
Jesus,  and  rolled  a  great  stone  to  the  door  of  the  tomb  and 
departed. 

And  the  women,  that  had  come  with  him  out  of  Galilee, 
followed  after,  and  beheld  the  tomb,  and  how  his  body  -was 
laid.  And  they  returned,  and  prepared  spices  and  oint- 
ments. 

And  on  the  sabbath  they  rested  according  to  the  com- 
mandment. 

Proj^hecies  Fulfilled.  Again  the  tender  con- 
sciences of  the  Jews  are  troubled ;  this  time, 
by  the  prospect  of  the  defilement  of  their  ap- 
proaching holy  day,  from  the  presence  of  the 
dead  bodies  on  the  cross.  As  it  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  the  crucified  will  die  for  hours 
to  come,  Pilate  is  entreated  to  order  the  sol- 
diers to  hasten  their  death,  by  the  brutal 
method  of  breaking  their  legs.  They  begin  the 
task,  and  are  amazed,  when  they  come  to  Jesus, 
to  find  Him  already  dead  !  But  they  must 
make  sure,  so  one  of  them  thrusts  his  spear  into 
the  side  of  Jesus,  and  the  blood  and  water 
stream  forth.  lie  who  saw  it,  bore  testimony, 
and  remembered  how  it  was  written  :  "  Not  a 
bone  of  Him  sliall  be  broken ; "  and  again, 
''  They  shall  look  on  Him  whom  tliey  have 
pierced."  But  there  was  anotlier  prophecy, 
quite  at  variance,  apparently,  with  all  that  has 
gone  before,  which  must  now  come  to  fulfilment. 


Good  Friday  217 

"  They  made  His  grave  with  the  rich  in  His 
death."  (Lsa.  53:  9.)  How  could  it  be  possi- 
ble for  a  criminal,  executed  by  crucifixion,  to 
lie  in  a  rich  man's  grave  ?  God's  Word  is  sure, 
and  will  not  fail.  There  was  a  certain  rich 
man,  a  member  of  the  Sanhedrin,  but  one  who 
had  not  consented  to  their  evil  deed.  Before 
Jesus  died  the  shameful  death  of  a  malefactor. 
He  had  been  afraid  to  confess  Himself  a  disci- 
ple. But  now,  when  those  who  had  been 
known  as  His  disciples  forsook  and  denied  Him, 
this  man  became  bold,  and  resolved,  at  any  risk, 
to  pay  the  last  honors  to  the  body  of  his  Lord. 
Dearer  than  all  his  wealth,  he  values,  now,  the 
dead  body  of  the  Master.  He  is  brave  enough 
to  go  to  Pilate  and  ask  for  the  treasure,  which 
is  granted  him.  There  is  another  at  the  burial, 
a  secret  disciple  like  Joseph ;  Nicodemus,  to 
whom,  in  that  night  interview,  the  Lord  had 
spoken  the  wonderful  words  about  the  new 
birth.  He  also  was  led  of  the  Spirit  in  this 
hour  of  seeming  disaster,  to  come  out  on  the 
side  of  Christ,  and  be  numbered  with  the 
faithful  few.  They  wrapped  the  beloved  body 
in  linen  cloths,  with  spices  for  embalming,  and 
bore  the  burden  tenderly  to  the  new  rock-hewn 
sepulchre  of  Joseph,  in  the  near-by  garden. 
The  women  were  with  them.  The  burial  must 
be  hurried,  as  the  day  of  Preparation  for  the 
Passover  was  at  hand.     They  laid  Him  in  the 


2i8  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

little  vault,  and  it  is  noted,  especially  of  the 
women,  that  "  they  beheld  the  tomb,  and  how 
His  body  was  laid."  This  is  related  because  it 
became  of  interest  on  the  Easter  morning.  The 
story  is  very  brief  and  simple.  What  heavy 
hearts  were  in  the  breasts  of  those  who  com- 
posed the  little  funeral  train ;  what  tears  were 
shed ;  what  words  were  spoken ;  what  crushed 
hopes  and  bitter  disappointment  filled  them,  we 
are  not  told.  They  turned  away.  Honored,  at 
least  by  the  few,  in  His  death ;  sleeping  not  in 
an  accursed  tomb,  but  in  a  rich  man's  sepulchre ; 
wrapped  in  that  still  slumber  from  which  they 
little  thought  He  was  so  soon  to  wake,  they 
leave  Him.  And  the  loving  women,  eager  to  do 
still  more  for  Him,  go  back  and  prepare  the 
spices  and  ointments  for  His  complete  embalm- 
ment when  the  Sabbath  shall  be  past, 

1.  To  luait  until  our  friends  are  deady  to 
honor  them,  is  not  good ;  yet  it  is  often  done. 
Too  frequent  are  the  stories  of  men  of  genius 
who  starve,  body  and  heart,  to  be  afterward 
applauded  (ind  honored  with  every  token  of 
enthusiastic  appreciation.  We  cannot  but 
think  how  tlie  love  of  Joseph  and  Nicodemus 
would  have  cheered  the  heart  of  Jesus  wlien 
He  was  doing  His  work,  and  how  mucli  tlieir 
influence  might  have  wrought  for  other  lives. 
But  they  waited. 


Good  Friday  219 

They  were  not  cowards.  Probably  they  had 
not  expected  to  delay  until  His  ears  could  not 
hear  their  words  of  trust  and  affection,  and 
they  CO  aid  only  offer  Him  the  hospitality  of  a 
tomb  and  the  honor  of  a  respectful  burial. 
They  had  lost  opportunities  that  could  not 
come  again.  Thus  is  it  with  many,  even  now. 
They  trust  Him,  and  they  are,  in  their  secret 
hearts,  His  children ;  but  they  wait.  They 
delay  the  giving  of  their  service.  They  expect, 
some  day,  to  honor  Him  with  rich  benefactions. 
They  will  confess  Him  when  their  "  convenient 
season "  shall  have  come.  Beware  lest  you 
wait  too  long ! 

2.  There  is  something  noble  in  this  espousal 
of  a  cause  that  teas  at  its  loivest  ebb.  There  was 
something  noble  in  the  courage  which  confessed 
Him  when  so  few  were  to  be  found  who  would 
reverence  His  Name,  and  when  Avorship  might 
mean  danger.  However  they  had  erred  in  the 
past,  we  are  sure  these  men  will  never  flinch  in 
the  future.  There  was  true  manhood  in  their 
allegiance  to  the  dead  Christ,  though  they  had 
failed  in  duty  to  Him,  living.  Even  if  their 
confession  meant  nothing  more  than  personal 
love  and  admiration  for  Him,  based  on  what 
He  had  said  and  done ;  even  if  they  had  no 
trust  in  Him  such  as  He  deserves,  still  it  was 
brave  and  manly.  So  He  needs  hearts  of  oak 
to  confess  Him  now.     He  needs  men  and  women 


220  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

not  afraid  nor  ashamed  to  stand  for  Him  and 
face  His  foes.  God  give  us  men  to  acknowl- 
edge Christ,  to  love  Him,  to  serve  Him,  to  en- 
dure hardships  as  good  soldiers  of  this  Captain. 
Are  you  of  these  ?  Can  you  have  followed 
Him  in  all  these  steps  of  His  path  of  love  unto 
death,  and  now  desert  Him  or  deny  Him,  or 
fail  to  confess  Him  valorously  ?     God  forbid ! 

3.  The  ricJi,  too^  have  a  right  to  Jesus.  Not 
many  mighty,  not  many  noble,  after  the  flesh, 
but  some^  thank  God,  do  follow  Him.  And  He 
welcomes  them.  There  is  a  place  for  riches  in 
His  service.  Only  consecrate  wealth,  with  all 
else,  to  Jesus,  and  He  can  sanctify  and  use  it. 
A  great  privilege  was  this  of  the  rich  man, 
that  he  could  do  for  the  Lord's  body  what 
others,  who  loved  Him  as  well,  could  not  do. 
So  is  it  a  privilege  to-day,  to  send  forth  mission- 
aries, to  found  Christian  schools  and  homes  of 
mercy,  to  sustain  and  extend  tlie  work  of  the 
Church,  out  of  the  possessions  He  has  given 
you.  Oh,  what  a  day  that  will  be,  when  men 
and  women  who  are  able,  shall  have  learned 
the  joy  of  lavishing  tlieir  abundance  unstintedly 
on  the  Lord  who  bought  them.  What  is  your 
Lenten  offering  of  gratitude  to  Him  to-day? 
Ask  yourself,  and  let  your  love  dictate  the  an- 
swer. Love  asks  not,  "  With  how  little  giving 
can  I  escape?"  but,  "How  much  is  it  possible 
for  me   to   give?"     What   is  your  gift?     He 


Good  Friday  221 

does  not  need  a  tomb  now,  but  can  you  not 
build  Him  a  temple  ? 

Prayer.  O  Lord,  I  thank  Thee  that,  lifted 
up,  Thou  art  already  drawing  men  to  Thee. 
My  heart  goes  out  to  the  rich  man  who  would 
not  let  Thee  lie  in  a  pauper's  grave.  I  rejoice 
that  Thou  hast  a  place  for  every  offering.  If 
I  cannot  give  Thee  a  splendid  sepulchre,  I  can 
bring  Thee  spices.  What  is  mine,  O  Lord,  is 
Tijine  !  Take  it,  and  bless  and  use  it.  Make 
me  ever  brave  and  true  and  faithful,  that  more 
than  all  other  gifts  to  Thee,  my  life  may  always 
praise  Thee.     Amen. 


Saturday  after  Palm  arum 

Now  on  the  morrow,  which  is  the  day  after  the  Prepara- 
tion, the  chief  priests  and  the  Pharisees  were  gathered  to- 
gether unto  Pilate,  saying,  Sir,  we  remember  that  that  de- 
ceiver said,  while  he  was  yet  alive,  After  three  days  I  rise 
again.  Command  therefore  that  the  sepulchre  be  made 
sure  until  the  third  day,  lest  haply  his  disciples  come  and 
steal  him  away,  and  say  unto  the  people,  He  is  risen  from 
the  dead :  and  the  last  error  will  be  worse  than  the  first. 
Pilate  said  unto  them.  Ye  have  a  guard :  go,  make  it  as 
sure  as  ye  can.  So  they  went,  and  made  the  sepulchre 
sure,  sealing  the  stone,  the  guard  being  with  them. 

The  Master  sleeps.  The  long  hours  pass 
slowly  while  He  lies  upon  His  stony  couch. 
His  soul  is  in  the  Paradise  where  on  this  day 
after  the  crucifixion,  the  repentant  thief  is  with 
Him,  in  His  bliss.  His  body  has  not  yet  been 
quickened,  that  in  His  completeness  He  may 
descend  into  the  hell  of  Satan  and  lost  spirits, 
to  triumph  there.  This  day  is  a  day  of  silence 
and  of  rest.  Let  the  poor,  torn  body  lie  there, 
its  time  of  toil  and  trial  all  passed  by.  The 
friends  who  loved  Him,  but  who  do  not  know 
of  the  glorious  triumph  yet  before  Him,  must 
be  glad  that  His  head  is  pillowed  now  on 
the  bosom  of  death,  instead  of  on  the  shame- 
ful cross ;  that  the  chill  of  the  last  sleep  is 
on  Him,  and  not  the  fever  of  those  last  hours 
of  life.  One  would  think  there  must  be  joy 
222 


Saturday  after  Palmarum  223 

in  hell,  to -day,  that  the  Conqueror  is  con- 
quered, and  the  Life-giver  dead.  And  deep 
must  be  the  satisfaction  of  His  high-priestly 
enemies,  that  the  grave  holds  Him,  and  He  is 
out  of  their  way,  to  thwart  and  disturb  them 
no  longer.  But  they  are  not  yet  satisfied.  A 
peace-destroying  recollection  comes  over  them. 
He  had  often  said  a  strange  thing  which  they 
now  remembered.  They  had  perverted  the 
statement  when  they  told  how  He  had  said ; 
"Destroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days  I  will 
build  it  up."  They  know  He  meant  the  temple 
of  His  body ;  and  a  deadly  fear  comes  over 
them.  So  many  of  His  wonderful  words  had 
come  true,  what  if  it  should  be  made  to  appear 
that  this  also  was  fulfilled  ?  Then  all  they  had 
accomplished  might  be  worse  than  useless. 
Perhaps  the  disciples  may  come,  and,  stealing 
away  the  body,  proclaim  Him  risen.  Then  the 
last  error  would  be  worse  than  the  first.  They 
must  appeal  again  to  Pilate,  they  must  secure 
the  aid  of  the  imperial  government  to  prevent 
the  miscarriage  of  their  aims.  Let  but  the  seal 
of  Rome  be  put  upon  the  closed  sepulchre, 
with  a  Roman  guard  at  the  door,  and  all  may 
yet  be  safe.  No  sooner  planned  than  done ! 
The  priests  and  Pharisees,  unable  to  rest  even 
while  He  sleeps  in  the  tomb,  gather  and  tell 
their  story  to  the  governor.  He  grants  their 
request.     A  Roman  guard  of  sixty  soldiers,  in- 


224  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

vincible,  not  knowing  fear,  go  to  the  grave. 
Across  the  stone  they  phice  a  cord,  fastening  it 
on  either  side  with  a  lump  of  wax  on  which  is 
stamped  the  seal  of  the  Caesars.  The  sep- 
ulchre is  sure.  Xow  His  enemies  can  rest. 
Their  last  apprehension  is  removed. — But  all 
they  have  done  is  nothing.  The  dispirited, 
despairing  disciples  have  no  leader,  no  plan, 
nor  any  hope.  Safeguard  surer  than  all,  they 
have  even  forgotten  the  word  of  the  Master 
which  His  enemies  remembered.  And  in  the 
dignity  of  death,  in  the  darkness  of  the  rocky 
cave,  the  Master  sleeps  on,  undisturbed  by  the 
jesting  and  the  oaths  and  the  tramping  of  the 
guard  outside.  The  prisoner  of  the  Roman 
Boldiers ;  the  prisoner  of  Death.  Let  Him  rest 
in  peace  till  the  time  for  awaking  comes ! 

1.  This  day  should  be  to  us  a  day  of  still- 
ness. Let  the  soul  be  quiet,  pondering  deeply 
on  this  great  mj'stery,  recalling  the  way  of  the 
cross  and  the  meaning  of  these  strange  events. 
A  day  for  prayer ;  a  day  for  rest  in  God,  for 
intimate  .communion  with  self  and  with  the 
Saviour.  Let  the  day's  accustomed  tasks  be 
set  aside  while  reverently  we  enter  into  the 
secret  place  beneath  the  shadow  of  His  wing. 
Noise,  restlessness,  busy  hurrying,  and  care  are 
not  befitting.  Let  us  enjoy  the  Sabbath  of  the 
soul.     **  In  quietness  and  confidence  shall  be 


Saturday  after  Palmarum  225 

your  strength."  (Is.  30 :  15.)  It  is  the  time  to 
wait  for  God.  "  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am 
God."  And  while  you  wait /or  Him,  wait  upon 
Him,  and  "  Renew  your  strength !  "  (Ps.  62  : 
1,5.) 

2.  A  true  word  from  false  foes  was  that 
wherein  they  said  that  if  He  rose  from  the  dead 
"  the  last  error  would  be  worse  than  the  first." 
For  Him  to  yield,  without  the  least  resistance, 
to  the  tomb  and  all  His  foes,  then  to  triumph 
over  all, — this  was  greater  proof  of  His  Messi- 
anic claims  than  if  He  had  resisted,  and  pre- 
vented the  working  of  those  evil  wills  upon 
Him.  Weak  were  the  Roman  soldiers  when 
the  angel  of  the  resurrection  stood  before  them, 
and  the  earth  quaked  beneath  them.  Little 
counted  the  seal  of  Rome's  Emperor,  when  the 
ambassador  of  the  King  of  Kings  rolled  the 
stone  away.  Helpless  was  Satan,  and  amazed, 
when  He  saw  the  Saviour,  in  that  body 
which  the  Prince  of  Hell  had  done  to  death, 
stand  before  Him  in  his  own  domain  and  tell 
his  triumph  !  And  to  this  day  the  victory  over 
death  and  the  grave  is  the  strength  of  the 
Gospel  message. 

3.  Sore  loss  is  always  theirs  Vfho  forget  the 
Word  of  God.  Jesus  had  again  and  again  pre- 
pared His  disciples  for  His  death,  and  for  His 
victory  over  death,  yet  they  had  forgotten. 
Peace,  instead  of  horrible  despair,  would  have 


226  The  Way  of  the  Cross 

been  then-  portion  all  through  the  awful  scenes 
that  they  had  witnessed,  if  they  had  but  re- 
ceived and  remembered  His  Word.  With  the 
quietness  and  confidence  that  would  have  been 
their  strength,  they  could  have  waited  for  Him 
while  He  slept  if  they  had  but  remembered  His 
repeated  promise  :  "  After  three  days  I  shall 
rise  again."  His  enemies  remembered,  yet  He 
had  not  spoken  for  them  ;  His  friends,  whom 
His  words  were  to  comfort,  forgot.  We,  too, 
lose  so  much  of  peace,  when  trial  and  loss  beset 
us,  because  we  have  forgotten  the  words  He 
gave  to  strengthen  us  in  just  such  hours.  In 
His  blessed  Book  there  is  that  which  we  need 
for  every  circumstance  of  life.  Let  us  ''  eat 
the  roll,"  and  it  will  be  "  sweet  within  us  !  " 

Prayer.  O  Christ,  though  Thou  liest  in  the 
tomb.  Thou  art  yet  the  Prince  of  Life.  Out  of 
Thy  blood  comes  blessing  to  Thy  children.  Out 
of  Thy  death  comes  life  to  those  who  trust. 
Out  of  Thy  tomb  comes  victory,  for  Thou  hast 
robbed  death  and  sin  and  hell  of  all  their 
power  to  terrify  Thine  own.  We  do  not  fear, 
because  we  know  that  naught  can  hold  Thee. 
On  this  day  of  stillness,  calm  Thou  our  hearts 
and  give  us  trust,  while  we  watch  to  see  Thee 
rise  in  Thine  unwearied  might.  Give  us  to 
know  the  power  of  Thy  resurrection.  Help  us 
to   live   in   Thee.     Spread  Thou   a  tabernacle 


Saturday  after  Palmarum         227 

over  us  through  all  our  journey-  By  Thy  pil- 
grimage from  Gethsemane  to  Golgotha,  make 
Thou  our  way  secure  from  earth  to  Heaven  ; 
since  we  ask  it  all  through  Thee  our  Mediator, 
Who  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
livest  and  reignest  ever  one  God,  world  with- 
out end,    Am€7i, 


^m 


BS2425.M64 

The  way  of  the  cross :  a  series  of 


Princeton  Theological  Semmary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00053  2624 


